Take Action! – Friends of Lake Wingra

Madison Alder District 13 Q&A

Take Action!, Uncategorized / Lake Wingra Team

The Friends of Lake Wingra asked each candidate five questions about their connection to Lake Wingra, District 13’s unique environmental challenges, their approach to watershed management, and strategies to understand and represent Lake Wingra’s needs. Candidates Tag Evers info@tagevers.comwww.tagevers.comFacebook: Tag EversTwitter: @TagEvers What does Lake Wingra mean to you?Lake Wingra is the reason I moved to this neighborhood. […]

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How Brown Leaves Help Turn Lake Wingra Green

Leaves and Phosphorus, Take Action!, Uncategorized / Lake Wingra Team

By Roger Bannerman Every Fall the leaves accumulating in our residential streets contribute to making Lake Wingra turn green in the summer. Rain water running through the fallen leaves can release nutrients, such as phosphorus and carry it to the lake. If the leaves are left on the street for the few weeks of the

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Leaf mulch: good for the flowerbed, good for the watershed

Take Action! / Lake Wingra Team

by Tim Kuhman (Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at Edgewood College and Friends of Lake Wingra board member) Every autumn as the days get noticeably shorter with each passing day and the trees throughout my neighborhood begin to drop their leaves, I watch as frustrated homeowners tackle the Sisyphean task of raking those leaves

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Children Friendly Storm Water Activity: Building a Rain Barrel

Take Action! / Lake Wingra Team

By Hannah Buscemi, William Wirono, and Vanessa Studer Following a rain or storm, hundreds of gallons of water flow from roofs of houses through downspouts, and eventually end up in our storm drains that empty out into our local lakes. In fact, with just one inch of rain, approximately 150 gallons of water are sent down

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How Property Owners Can Help Our Watershed

Take Action! / Lake Wingra Team

An urban watershed, like Lake Wingra’s, means that water is not able to naturally infiltrate into the ground as much due to development. Parking lots, roads, and other impervious surfaces often redirect runoff to storm sewers and the sewers bring the runoff to water bodies. Skipping the natural infiltration process doesn’t allow the ground to

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Monarchs for Kids in 2017—Connecting with Mexico

Environmental Education, Monarchs, News, Projects, Take Action! / Lake Wingra Team

In the library, a monarch butterfly rested on a small boy’s hand. Suddenly it fluttered upward—zig-zagging over bookshelves toward a window. Four squealing children ran to where it landed on a windowsill. Catalina approached, coaxing it onto her fingertip. Her eyes flashed with uncertainty, bravery, and wonder. A big smile appeared. “Look what I caught!

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Friends of Lake Wingra Participates in a Wisconsin Frog and Toad Survey: Volunteers Welcome!

Amphibian Phenology, Projects, Take Action! / Lake Wingra Team

Friends of Lake Wingra has begun a new program to help understand and protect the amphibians that call our lake home. We are working with a group of volunteers to listen for frogs and toads near the Vilas Lagoon throughout the spring and early summer to learn when each species is most active in the

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Compost: Nature’s Recycling

Take Action! / Lake Wingra Team

TIME TO THINK COMPOST! This is the last really free lunch on the planet–at least for your garden. You can pay for a composter by avoiding the purchase of just three bags of lawn fertilizer. Compost is much better than chemical fertilizer because it adds structure to soil and releases nutrients slowly. Why

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5 Tips for Do-It-Yourself Eco-Friendly Spring Cleaning

Take Action! / Lake Wingra Team

Spring cleaning is just around the corner and we want to help your home feel fresh and safe, for your family and for the environment! Check out these cheap and easy DIY cleaning solutions that will leave your house smelling lemony fresh. 1) All-purpose cleaner: Cuts grease & deodorizes 1 cup white vinegar 1 cup

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Climate Change – Citizens Must Lead

News, Take Action! / Lake Wingra Team

A majority of Americans believe climate change is real and caused by human activity. Yet Donald Trump has said climate change is a hoax. Our current political climate is a challenge to all environmentalists. Even the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has recently removed references to climate change from their website. Given this

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Volunteers needed for Salt-Free Sidewalk demo

News, Road Salt, Take Action! / Lake Wingra Team

We’re looking for homeowners to help demonstrate salt-free methods for clearing snow from sidewalks, including solar snow removal. We’re testing some improved methods. But you can use any method, provided no salt and that it’s a showcase job. All the snow doesn’t have to be cleared at once. We’ll provide you with a small sign

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Solar Forecast: Clear the Snow Without Salt

News, Road Salt, Take Action! / Lake Wingra Team

Key ideas… Prevent packing of snow Scrape so remaining snow lets light through to the pavement Let the sun evaporate the rest (ice can evaporate without melting) Forecast Two more days of sun before the next snow. Use that time to clear all packed snow. In the morning, scrape or brush any snow

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