Conference targets solutions for lakes

The woes of the Yahara Lakes are obvious: murky waters, noxious algae blooms, choking weeds.

The causes, too, are well known: nutrient pollution from farm fields and residential lawns, loose soil from construction sites, chemical contaminants from streets and parking lots, all swept into the lakes by storm water runoff.

The real question is how best to address these problems.

People who care about Dane County’s tainted jewels will consider the options in a daylong conference on Friday, Oct. 10, at Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center.

“A Clean Future for the Yahara Lakes: Solutions for Tomorrow, Starting Today” is the theme of the meeting, hosted by the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies.

Organizers hope to capitalize on momentum generated by an earlier conference on the Yahara Lakes in May 2007.

Citizens, scientists, public officials, advocates, farmers, business people, lakeshore property owners, and other stakeholders will participate in the Oct. 10 meeting. Anyone may attend, but pre-registration is required by Friday, Sept. 26. The $25 registration fee covers all conference materials, a continental breakfast, lunch and refreshments.

For more information or to register, visit the Yahara Lakes conference Web site at http://nelson.wisc.edu/outreach or contact Steve Pomplun, 263-3063, spomplun@wisc.edu.