TAKE A STAKE IN THE LAKES 2007 - DANE COUNTY'S CLEANUP EVENT

May 02, 2007
MARCIA HARTWIG 224-3746 RHEA STANGEL-MAIER 224-3601
Land & Water Resources

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 2, 2007 Contact: Rhea Stangel-Maier, Adult Conservation Team Coordinator, 224-3601 Sue Jones, Watershed Management Coordinator, 224-3764 Take a Stake in the Lakes 2007 Dane County's Cleanup Event A Take a Stake in the Lakes Week Event The 20th Annual Take a Stake in the Lakes volunteer cleanup of the Yahara Lakes and other area waters will be held on June 9 and June 16, 2007. Lakes Mendota and Kegonsa will be the focus on Saturday, June 9 from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 noon, with the information center at Warner Park – outside the Warner Park Community Center by the Clean Lakes Festival Education Tent (www.cleanlakesfestival.com). Lakes Monona, Waubesa and Wingra will be the focus on Saturday, June 16 from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 noon, with the information center at Law Park in Madison. Over the years, thousands of volunteers have removed hundreds of tons of waste from Lakes Mendota, Monona, Waubesa and Kegonsa. During Take a Stake in the Lakes, groups, individuals and families adopt a beach or shoreline, collect litter and rake aquatic debris from the shoreline and shallow waters. Some adopt boat launches, and some pick up trash while paddling their canoes or kayaks. Many groups then have a picnic in the park they’ve just cleaned up. Garbage bags, t-shirts and door prizes are provided. Volunteers can also stencil or mark storm drains in their neighborhoods using either stencil kits and spray paint or colorful disks that are glued to the curb. The stencils and markers remind folks to keep waste, leaves and grass clippings out of the gutters, which drain directly to the lakes. Dane County Public Works barges will conduct the annual aquatic debris pickup from shoreline residents’ piers on Lake Mendota and Lake Kegonsa starting on Monday, June 11 and on Lake Monona and Waubesa starting on Monday, June 18, starting at 6:00 a.m. Aquatic debris must be on shoreline residents’ piers by 6 a.m. the Monday after the respective lakes clean-up event, for pickup during that week. Call now to reserve your group’s favorite park, stream or stretch of shoreline, or to find out how you can help protect our beautiful lakes. Take a Stake in the Lakes is sponsored by the Dane County Lakes & Watershed Commission and is part of Take a Stake in the Lakes Week, which celebrates and promotes public awareness of the Yahara Lakes and other water resources in Dane County. The event is held in cooperation with Dane County Parks, Dane County Public Works and Dane County/UW Extension, and is sponsored by many local businesses and organizations. To participate or to discuss sponsorship opportunities, contact Rhea Stangel-Maier at 608-224-3601 or stangel-maier@co.dane.wi.us. Volunteers may also come to the information centers, where stencil kits and garbage bags will be available. More information on Take a Stake in the Lakes Week is available at www.danewaters.com. # # #