What's New

Wisconsin has over 15,000 lakes that are really valuable to us for a relaxing vacation, good fishing or beautiful scenery close to home.  Unfortunately, pollution from out-of-control development is choking our lakes with algae, making them unfishable and unswimmable.  Our lakes need strong protections now. 

Wisconsin Environment is calling on the Board of the Development of Natural Resources to adopt the Save Our Lakes Initiative—strong action to protect our lakes against the pollution, soil erosion and other problems that result from too much shoreland development.

How you can help

Please take a moment to e-mail the governor and urge him to strengthen our Shoreland Zoning Rules (NR 115).

Brief Summary

For a relaxing vacation, good fishing or beautiful scenery close to home, you can't beat Wisconsin's 15,000 lakes. But many of the lakes we love are being ruined by out-of-control development. Giant luxury homes are spoiling their scenic beauty. Soil erosion is degrading fishing spots from Lake Koshkonong to Lake Winnabago. And phosphorous pollution is choking 8 out of every 10 Wisconsin lakes with algae.

Our lakes need strong protections now, including limits on new development and strong natural buffer zones.

The good news is that our government is considering new steps to protect our lakes. Wisconsin Environment and other groups are advocating strong action, but lobbyists for the influential Wisconsin Builders Association are also pushing hard to keep the law on their side.