The sources of excess nutrients and sediments that enter the Yahara Lakes are widely known and well understood. But practical and effective ways to halt this pollution — which degrades water quality, feeds excess growth of weeds and algae, and leads to frequent beach closings – continue to elude us. A Clean Future for the Yahara Lakes: Solutions for Tomorrow, Starting Today will focus on identifying and implementing answers to these persistent problems.

Highlights include:

* A keynote presentation by Tom O’Brien, Executive Director of the Watershed Agricultural Council in New York. This program, a partnership between urban residents and farmers in the upstate watershed, supports agricultural conservation practices that ensure clean drinking water for New York City.
* Concurrent session tracks on citizen action and community partnerships; controlling urban and rural sediment and nutrient run-off; investigating and controlling beach pollution; and opportunities in manure management to cut phosphorus input into the lakes.
* A panel of local leaders, moderated by Neil Heinen, that will respond to ideas and recommendations generated by the day’s activities.

To register for A Clean Future for the Yahara Lakes: Solutions for Tomorrow, Starting Today, please visit www.nelson.wisc.edu/outreach/yahara.

For more information, contact Steve Pomplun at the Nelson Institute, spomplun@wisc or 263-3063.

We hope to see you at Monona Terrace on October 10!