Tag Water
UW project asks: What happens to irrigation water in Wisconsin’s Central Sands?
“You can't grow much here without irrigation," says farmer Justin Isherwood, "but we’re not sure how much is enough, and how to leave the same groundwater resource for the next generation."
Spinoff that puts phosphorus in its place signs key contract
In a bit of high-tech judo, a UW–Madison spinoff has started selling a technology to transform phosphorus at wastewater treatment plants from a major headache into an asset.
Study quantifies role of ‘legacy phosphorus’ in reduced water quality
Though farmers have taken steps to reduce the quantity of phosphorus applied to and running off their fields, researchers say an abundance of the nutrient has a long-lasting impact on lakes and rivers.
Study shows many lakes getting murkier, but gives hope for improvement
While water clarity in most Wisconsin lakes has not changed in 20 years, researchers say the fact that more lakes are getting worse signals there is work to be done.
Report reveals a big dependence on freshwater fish for global food security
What is clear, the study authors say, is that society should safeguard freshwater ecosystems for the sake of both fish and people.
New virus found during investigation into largemouth bass fish kill
The virus has been identified in association with a die-off of largemouth bass in Pine Lake in Wisconsin’s Forest County.
UW scientists say invasive species impacts much worse than thought
According to UW researchers, a single non-native species in a single inland lake has racked up $80 million to $163 million in damage.
Small landscape changes can mean big freshwater gains
A typical bird's-eye view of the Midwest offers a patchwork landscape covered mostly by agriculture but mottled with forest, wetland, grassland, buildings and pavement. This pattern influences the quality and supply of the many natural benefits the landscape provides people, including freshwater.
Moving fast to study nitrate in the Mississippi, algae in Mendota
The Mississippi River has long had its explorers. From de Soto to Marquette, Lewis and Clark to Clemens, the fourth largest river in the world has for centuries inspired enchantment.
UW-Madison students find zebra mussels in Lake Mendota
An undergraduate class at the University of Wisconsin–Madison has discovered another invasive species in Lake Mendota.
UW-Madison researcher chosen to lead Ecological Society of America
Monica Turner has made a career of studying ecosystem resilience in the face of ecological challenges, from severe forest fires and bark beetle outbreaks in Greater Yellowstone and the northern Rockies to climate and land use change in Wisconsin.
Experts help Green Bay establish new island chain to benefit shipping and wildlife
A partnership between the University of Wisconsin–Madison, the shipping industry and other organizations to restore a chain of islands in Green Bay is, literally, for the birds.
Communities have turned to water resources program for 50 years
Lake Marion is a shallow sliver of a lake on the edge of Mazomanie, Wisconsin. Created in the 1850s by a dam that fed a nearby mill, the lake has become a valuable aquatic habitat and a popular bass fishing spot for locals.
Researchers study Wisconsin’s deepest natural lake to help preserve ‘an ecological jewel’
UW-Madison researchers have teamed up with community leaders to analyze Green Lake, Wisconsin's deepest natural inland lake and a crucial habitat for lake trout and other cold water species.
Sea Caves Watch promotes kayaker safety in northern Wisconsin
A public safety project initiated by the University of Wisconsin–Madison to prevent kayaking tragedies has been turned over to the National Park Service and several partners.
Wisconsin’s fish – all of them – star in new poster series
Fully grown, the least darter is one inch long — Wisconsin’s smallest fish. The lake sturgeon, which can grow to more than 6 feet in length, is Wisconsin’s biggest. In between are 181 other species, and each and every one of them will soon have its moment in the spotlight, thanks to scientific illustrator Kandis Elliot.
New online tool puts Madison lakes on the map — and in the forecast
Imagine packing the car, herding your family on board and heading to the lake, only to find green, scummy water or a closed beach at your destination. Up until now, it's been an all-too-common end to summer travel plans in Wisconsin. But a new online tool can send people to clearer waters.
All aboard for Center for Limnology’s 4th annual Hasler Open House
The state of Wisconsin is defined by lakes and so is the University of Wisconsin. In fact, the UW–Madison campus runs along the shoreline of Lake Mendota, the "birthplace" of limnology (the scientific study of lakes) in North America.
Bigger bang for your buck: Restoring fish habitat by removing barriers
A few years ago, researchers at the University of Wisconsin–Madison Center for Limnology created the first map of all the road crossings and dams blocking the tributary rivers that feed the five Great Lakes. These tributaries serve as migratory highways, providing fish like walleye and lake sturgeon access to headwater breeding grounds.
Business will implement new phosphorus recycling process in Midwest
A University of Wisconsin–Madison startup is helping Midwest cities remove pollutants from wastewater through a new process that will benefit local farmers, too.