Victory for clean lakes in Wisconsin!

New bill will help prevent algae blooms

On April 14, after unanimous votes from the state Assembly and Senate, Gov. Jim Doyle signed the Clean Lakes Bill into law. Authored by Sens. Mark Miller (Monona) and Rob Cowles (Green Bay), and Reps. Spencer Black (Madison) and Garey Bies (Sister Bay), the bill was backed by numerous environmental and conservation groups, including Wisconsin Environment, as a common sense measure to help protect Wisconsin’s lakes from algae blooms. 

“This is a victory for our treasured lakes,” said Wisconsin Environment Director Dan Kohler. “The state Legislature, and especially Sen. Miller and Rep. Black, deserve credit for acting decisively to protect our lakes from the phosphorus pollution that is choking our beaches and best fishing spots with algae.”

Solving our runoff pollution problem

Polluted runoff is Wisconsin’s number one water quality problem, degrading or threatening an estimated 90 percent of inland lakes. One particular runoff problem comes in the form of excess nutrients like phosphorus, which can wash into lakes and streams from lawns, streets, construction sites and agricultural sources.  Even small amounts of phosphorus runoff can cause algae blooms, harm water quality, and affect recreational use.

“Along with the Wild River Bill, the Clean Lakes Bill is one of the first steps of many we will be taking this legislative session to clean and protect our water resources,” said Rep. Black, who chairs the Committee on Natural Resources and authored the bill.

Research indicates that restricting the use of phosphorus in lawn fertilizers can be an effective way to reduce the amount of phosphorous that is washed into our lakes from residential areas. Studies confirm that most lawns in Wisconsin already have more than enough phosphorus to grow healthy turf. Several counties in Wisconsin, including Dane County, have already taken action to ban phosphorus in fertilizer, with impressive results.

“We want to thank all of the citizens who supported this initiative, and the authors of the bill for taking action before Wisconsin’s lakes are further threatened,” said Kohler. “We look forward to continuing to work with all legislators to protect Wisconsin’s lakes.”