Lake Wingra Monitoring Volunteers Update – April 19, 2019 For the last three days, a flock of Red Breasted Mergansers have stopped on our lake to rest and feed (Figure 1 and featured image above). We saw them diving in the lake to catch fish – their most common source of food. They winter in …
What other Wingra visitors are enjoying this weather? Read More »
Lake Wingra Monitoring Volunteers Update – April 17, 2019 Birds migrating north are beginning to stop over in Lake Wingra. We recently had the fun of watching a flock of migrating Bonparte’s Gulls diving into the lake to catch fish (Figure 1). Most of the time they were feeding in the pool below the dam …
Sounds of delight were heard as students from Toki middle school caught fish in the waters around the Lake Wingra dam (Figure 1). The fishing action was steady with Wingra’s large supply of pan fish. The students’ opportunity to fish at Lake Wingra was supported by the City of Madison Police Department’s …
Happenings Around Lake Wingra in July – August 1, 2018 Read More »
June 24, 2018 A large decrease in water clarity did not discourage young anglers from trying their luck in Lake Wingra last weekend. Joseph Julie was spotted catching blue gills on the Arboretum side of the lake (Figure 1). He shared he was enjoying a steady catch of the small fish. Parents were helping …
Still Catching Fish in Murky Waters – June 24, 2018 Read More »
By Peter Nause The beginning of the Madison Park System in 1931 grew out of the rich legacy of the “Park & Pleasure Drive Association” starting in the 1890’s by wealthy benefactors with notable names we recognize today as parks – Vilas, Tenney, Brittingham & Olbrich. Unless you live on the near west side of …
Historic Wingra Tributary – Glenwood Children’s Park Read More »
By Roger Bannerman Rain gardens help improve the quality of our lakes by capturing pollutants and infiltrating runoff. One additional benefit for Lake Wingra is that increased infiltration can help restore spring flows, which is the main source of year-round flows into Lake Wingra. Out of the 600 rain gardens that have been installed around …
by Casey Hanson A lot of activity is happening in our watershed this year! We have Monroe Street construction, Vilas bridges reconstruction, Wingra shoreline restoration, and more. While many of these activities are physical in nature, some aren’t visible to the naked eye. They are behind the scenes and crucial to continue our work to …
Friends of Lake Wingra Launches Strategic Planning Effort Read More »
By Casey Hanson Beach and boat season are almost in full swing! These activities are relaxing, playful, adventurous, and downright unpredictable. To borrow from Forest Gump’s mama, having an experience with aquatic vegetation (aka macrophytes) “is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get.” When you paddle, luck might allow you to observe a beautiful blooming white water lily or you …
What’s Going on with Lake Wingra’s Aquatic Plants? Read More »
by Phil Gaebler, City of Madison Engineering The Monroe Street reconstruction project is underway and the City would like to provide an overview of the erosion control and post construction storm water management. During the actual construction process, the Monroe Street project is taking efforts to expose the least amount of disturbed soil by leaving the majority of existing road surface in place …
How Monroe Street Storm water Management Is Changing Read More »
By Casey Hanson Lake Wingra’s natural setting and calm waters may lead you to believe that erosion is not a large concern there, but it is at Wingra Park. Erosion, a natural process that results in part from wave energy, can occur at slow rates, but human activities can accelerate the process. Wingra …
