Watershed Partnerships: Yahara WINS and Rock River Coalition
The origins of a collaboration between Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District and Rock River Coalition and an illumination of their successes.
Success Stories
A hallmark of Yahara WINS is challenging the status quo. The project’s structure of watershed adaptive management allows for creativity and flexibility in how we approach water quality challenges, which are becoming increasingly vital in the face of a changing climate. Lessons from these projects are expanding the options we can use to protect our rivers and streams.
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Record-high Yahara Pride Farms signups in 2020
A record number of farmers in the watershed signed up for cost-share for conservation practices through Yahara Pride Farms (YPF) in 2020, which receives funding from Yahara WINS.
Manure aeration study reduces phosphorus content by 90%
WINS innovation grant study finds that aeration of beef cattle manure reduces the phosphorus content of liquid manure by 90%.
Dane County cover cropping enhancements
This project involved the use of a farm implement called a roller crimper to streamline the transition between cash crops and cover crops.
Stormwater basin treatment to reduce algae
A project funded with a Yahara WINS grant tested out a method for mitigating phosphorus in urban stormwater retention basins. Many practices in Yahara WINS are focused on preventing phosphorus from entering water bodies, but once phosphorus has already made it into a waterway, it can keep fueling algae growth unless removed or transformed. In
Yahara Pride Farms composting study
A two-year manure composting study project was completed in 2019. This project, funded jointly by Yahara WINS, Dane County, Clean Lakes Alliance and Yahara Pride Farms, had a goal of making both manure storage and transportation more feasible for farmers. Raw manure is high in water, which means manure storage pits fill quickly and that