Alignment of land, people, and resources prevented more than 59,000 pounds of phosphorus from entering local waters
MADISON, Wis. — The Yahara Watershed Improvement Network (Yahara WINS) has released its 2024 annual report, marking the program’s eighth consecutive year of phosphorus reduction progress. In 2024 alone, Yahara WINS partners prevented 59,124 pounds of phosphorus from entering the Yahara River watershed.
This regional initiative, led by the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District, employs a watershed adaptive management approach that unites farmers, municipalities, and land conservation partners to implement low-cost, collaborative practices that enhance water quality and mitigate algae blooms. Key partners include Dane County Land and Water Resources Department, Rock County Land Conservation Department, and Yahara Pride Farms.
“It’s because of our partners’ continued commitment that the program keeps exceeding the watershed’s total annual phosphorus reduction goals,” said Martye Griffin, Yahara WINS president and Director of Ecosystem Services at Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District. “We’ll keep adapting our approach to maintain this encouraging momentum.”
2024 Program Highlights:
- Phosphorus reductions exceeded the annual goal by 12%, reflecting steady progress across the watershed.
- Reductions were concentrated in key areas, with Reach 64 (Lake Mendota and Lake Monona) again leading in both the number of practices implemented and phosphorus reductions achieved.
- Cover crops remained the most widely used conservation practice, with 13,592 acres supported by Yahara Pride Farms and 2,292 acres by Dane County LWRD—especially in Reaches 64 and 62 (Dorn Creek).
- Other widely adopted practices included fence construction for managed grazing, low-disturbance manure injection (LDMI), and strip-till/no-till agriculture.
The Yahara River watershed spans portions of Columbia, Dane, and Rock counties and ultimately drains into the Mississippi River, which empties into the Gulf of Mexico. Excess phosphorus in this system poses a threat to aquatic life, public health, and recreational use, while also reducing local property values and contributing to nutrient pollution downstream.
Looking Ahead: Yahara WINS Community Meetings
As the program enters its ninth full year of implementation, Yahara WINS coordinators are launching a new round of community meetings with participating municipalities. Similar to the outreach efforts during the project’s early years, these meetings will provide updates, answer questions, and invite local input.
“Whether your community has new staff or elected officials, the same great partners who’ve been involved from the start, or a group invested in our work, these sessions will be a valuable opportunity to say hello and reconnect,” said Mike Gilbertson, Watershed Program Coordinator.
“Everyone has a role to play, and together we can keep making the Yahara watershed healthier for all.”
Meeting details will be shared with Yahara WINS member communities throughout the year and will also be available at yaharawins.org.