CARING FOR OUR LAKES, RIVERS, & WETLANDS
365 Days a Year
CARING FOR OUR LAKES, RIVERS, & WETLANDS
365 Days a Year
About Take a Stake
For almost 30 years, Take a Stake volunteers have been working to protect and improve the lakes, streams and wetlands of Dane County. Since its creation in 1988, Take a Stake has been expanded by the Dane County Lakes and Watershed Commission and Office of Lakes and Watersheds from two days of shoreline clean-ups, to a two-week series of countywide special events, and now year-round activities that help people celebrate, learn about, protect and improve Dane County waters, recognizing that care for Dane County’s lakes, streams and wetlands doesn’t happen only a couple weeks out of the year.
During Take a Stake in Our Waters events, groups, clubs, individuals and families adopt beaches, shorelines, streams and more to collect litter, remove invasive species, plant native plants, mark storm drains, as well as a number of other activities. Thousands of volunteers have participated in these events and made a huge impact in Dane County over the decades.
Events
Arboretum Work Party
Help improve native habitat and help native plants thrive by removing invasive plant species in the Lake Wingra watershed. The UW-Madison Arboretum maintains one the oldest prairie restorations in the world.
Groups interested in volunteering should contact Marian Farrior in advance to coordinate.
Time and Place: 9am – noon, Contact Marian for the location
Contact: Marian Farrior, mlfarrior@wisc.edu; see https://arboretum.wisc.edu/get-involved/volunteer/work-parties/ for more information
Door Creek clean-up
Volunteers will be clearing downed trees and trash from the creek. We have some boats available but if you have your own canoe or kayak, please bring it. Volunteers should wear work clothes or waders (if possible) and expect to get wet and muddy.
Time and Place: 9-1 – meet at HWY MN at creek bridge near I 90 (map)
Contact: For more information or to RSVP, contact Steve cwt@capitolwatertrails.org
Statewide Aquatic Invasive Species Snapshot Day
Join nearly 200 other water enthusiasts at one of 16 rendezvous sites around Wisconsin for our fourth annual Statewide Aquatic Invasive Species Snapshot Day. Hosted in partnership with UW Extension's Citizen Lake Monitoring Network, this year's event will teach volunteers how to identify aquatic invasive species and then get people out on lakes and streams to search for these species that could choke our rivers and lakes if gone undetected.
Time and Place: 9:00 am - 1:00 pm Meet at Token Creek Conservancy, Old Mill Site, 6394 Portage Rd, DeForest, WI 53532
Contact: Amanda Perdzock, 608-257-2424 ex. 111, aperdzock@wisconsinrivers.org
Arboretum Wingra Oak Savanna Work Party
Help improve native habitat and help native plants thrive by removing invasive plant species in the Lake Wingra watershed. The UW-Madison Arboretum maintains one the oldest prairie restorations in the world.
Groups interested in volunteering should contact Marian Farrior in advance to coordinate.
Time and Place: 9am – noon, Wingra Oak Savanna at the UW Arboretum, meet at the parking lot on Arbor Drive, just off Monroe Street, Madison. Work parties are cancelled if it is raining or snowing.
Contact: Marian Farrior (608) 265-5214 mlfarrior@wisc.edu; see https://arboretum.wisc.edu/get-involved/volunteer/work-parties/ for more information
Arboretum Core Area/Curtis Prairie Work Party
Help improve native habitat and help native plants thrive by removing invasive plant species in the Lake Wingra watershed. The UW-Madison Arboretum maintains one the oldest prairie restorations in the world.
Groups interested in volunteering should contact Marian Farrior in advance to coordinate.
Time and Place: 9am – noon, Core Area/Curtis Prairie at the UW Arboretum. Meet at the Visitor Center front steps, Madison. Work parties are cancelled if it is raining or snowing.
Contact: Marian Farrior (608) 265-5214 mlfarrior@wisc.edu; see https://arboretum.wisc.edu/get-involved/volunteer/work-parties/ for more information
Aquatic Debris Collection
Shoreline Residents:
The annual Take a Stake in Our Waters shoreline trash and aquatic debris collection by Dane County Lakes Management barges begins on:
Lakes Mendota & Kegonsa
Monday, July 24, 2017
Lakes Monona & Waubesa
Monday, July 31, 2017
YES: Aquatic vegetation (lake weeds, algae), debris washed up on shore (trash, dead fish, etc.)
NO: Yard waste or brush (grass clippings, leaves, tree limbs), household waste (garbage, pet waste, etc.)
Barges will make ONE pass around the lake. Have debris on your pier by 6 am Monday so you don’t miss the collection. It may be a few days until they get to your pier. If the water adjacent to your pier is too shallow to allow our access from the water, we may not be able to pick up debris from your pier.
Questions about this shoreline cleanup? Call John Reimer at (608) 224-3612. For all other questions about Dane County waters, visit https://olw-lwrd.countyofdane.com.
If you don't currently reside at your lakefront property, please make sure that those who live there are aware of this shoreline debris collection.
