If you live in south-central Wisconsin, chances are you have spent time at one of the lakes along the Yahara chain of lakes, which includes Lakes Mendota, Monona, Wingra, Waubesa, and Kegonsa.

You may also have an experience of wanting to fish, swim, or boat on one of the lakes but finding that the beach was closed due to E.coli, harmful algal blooms, or other pollution levels. These are ongoing threats to the lakes we love so much.

For today’s show, guest host Douglas Haynes discusses the health and future of the Yahara lakes with Jennifer Lavender Braun, lead microbiologist at Public Health Madison & Dane County, and Paul Dearlove, deputy director at Clean Lakes Alliance.

Topics include monitoring lake conditions for swimming and fishing, the dangers of blue-green algae and cyanobacteria, restoration projects like “Suck the Muck” and “Renew the Blue,” and other issues affecting the Yahara watershed.

Cover photo: Lake Mendota at sunset, 2018, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 

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