FRIENDS OF THE LAKESHORE NATURE PRESERVE
  • Home
  • What We Do
    • Volunteering
    • Field Trips >
      • Self-guided Field Trips
    • Community Outreach >
      • Science Expeditions 2021
    • Friends Projects
    • Newsletter
    • Research
    • Citizen Science
  • People & Events
  • The Preserve
    • Stories
    • Maps >
      • 1918 Marsh
      • Eagle Heights Woods
    • Birds >
      • Bluebirds
      • Purple Martins
    • Animals
    • Plants
    • Lichens
  • Support us
  • About
    • Mission and Goals
    • Annual Report
    • Committees & Contact
  • Blog

Friends at Seed Fair of Eagle Heights Community Garden–March 30

3/31/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
At the Eagle Heights Community Gardeners Seed Fair, on Saturday morning, March 30, Doris Dubielzig had a lot of fun representing the Friends. Visitors were encouraged to dissect a lima bean to locate the embryonic plant inside the seed (“Oooh!”). Bryn Scriver, Preserve Outreach Coordinator, provided the seeds for a second challenge, to match seeds of five butterfly-attracting prairie plants that grow in the Preserve with illustrations of the plants. Given the Seed Fair clientele, those who rose to the seed matching challenge all scored 80% or higher. The relatively large seeds of wild onion, Allium cernuum, were the hardest to match.Tom Bryan, of the Greenhouse Learning Community, provided a a tray of vegetable seedlings to show their passive watering system and a baby burr oak (another dicot!). Visitors received maps of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve, diagrams of monocot and dicot seed structures, and the list of 2019 Spring and Summer Field Trips and Volunteer Workdays.
0 Comments

Blue-Green Algae Blooms in Madison Lakes – February 17 (indoor field  trip)

3/5/2019

0 Comments

 
Picture
Dr. Trina McMahon presenting.
On February 17th an intrepid group of Friends and concerned citizens gathered at the Eagle Heights Community Center to learn about and discuss the increasingly relevant topic of blue-green algae blooms with Dr. Trina McMahon.  McMahon, a microbial ecologist and professor in the UW Civil and Environmental Engineering and Bacteriology departments, shared her expertise on blue-green algae, delving into what causes blooms, how blue-green algae affects water quality and what measures we might take to solve the problems associated with it.
McMahon pointed out that the name “algae” is a bit of a misnomer as the organism is not an algae at all, rather, it is a type of bacteria called cyanobacteria. From an evolutionary standpoint, blue-green algae is more similar to humans than it is true algae. Distinguishing it from true algae is important when one considers how blue-green algae functions in the ecosystem. Unlike true algae, blue-green algae does not play a major role in establishing the aquatic food chain. It produces toxins, reduces light penetration, causes foul odors, and contributes to harmful dissolved oxygen depletion in our lakes.

Some cyanobacteria species are native to Wisconsin and blooms have occurred for centuries in our lakes. In recent years however, the frequency and magnitude of blooms has grown at an alarming rate. Most scientists point to the influx of phosphorus into open water systems and McMahon detailed how the nutrient serves as a limiting factor which regulates cyanobacteria population size. Changes in agricultural techniques, land use, and soil disturbance have all contributed to increased levels of phosphorus in our lakes, creating a situation in which blue-green algae can flourish. 

Dr. McMahon’s fascinating presentation catalyzed a bright discussion with many of the attendees sharing their experiences and insights into the not-well-understood phenomenon of blue-green algae blooms. Among the many problems associated with the frequent blooms in our lakes is how their occurrences could affect our perception of Madison lakes. Dr. McMahon poignantly remarked that if people are afraid to be in or around the lakes, they’ll use them less. If Madison residents stop interacting with our lakes, they might give up on the them, making it much harder to solve the problems that require our help. 

After Dr. McMahon’s presentation, Dea Larsen Converse, from the Clean Lakes Alliance (CLA), discussed the CLA’s mission, the importance of their Water Quality Monitoring Program, and how individuals can assist in reducing nutrient pollution and improve the cleanliness of Lake Mendota water.  
Arlene Koziol, Friend of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve and Clean Lakes Alliance Water Quality Monitor, explained the role of a CLA Water Quality Monitor while Jeff Koziol demonstrated how to use a turbidity tube to assess water clarity. See Arlene's account of the 2018 Cyanobacteria blooms on Lake Mendota. Steve Sentoff of the Friends has formed a team of volunteers who will monitor water quality following the Clean Lake Alliance protocol along University Bay boating pier. 
Seth McGee was the Friends' host for the event. He provided this summary and photos.
Picture
Picture
Arlene and Jeff Koziol explaining the Water Quality Monitoring program of Clean Lake Alliance.
0 Comments

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    October 2020
    September 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017

    RSS Feed

    People & Events
    2017
    2016
    2015
    2014

         January - April 
         May-December
Friends of the Lakeshore Nature Preserve
 P.O. Box 5534
 Madison, WI 53705 

UW-Madison Lakeshore Nature Preserve website

Documents
Picture
Related websites:
UW Nelson Institute
UW Arboretum
Clean Lakes Alliance
Groundswell Conservancy
Pleasant Valley Conservancy
Pheasant Branch Conservancy
​
  • Home
  • What We Do
    • Volunteering
    • Field Trips >
      • Self-guided Field Trips
    • Community Outreach >
      • Science Expeditions 2021
    • Friends Projects
    • Newsletter
    • Research
    • Citizen Science
  • People & Events
  • The Preserve
    • Stories
    • Maps >
      • 1918 Marsh
      • Eagle Heights Woods
    • Birds >
      • Bluebirds
      • Purple Martins
    • Animals
    • Plants
    • Lichens
  • Support us
  • About
    • Mission and Goals
    • Annual Report
    • Committees & Contact
  • Blog