OUR COLLECTIVE IMPACT
GLA INVESTMENT IN
LAKE-PROTECTING EFFORTS
2020-2024
Our Lake, Our Legacy is a $15 million campaign to protect Green Lake—here’s what your support has already made possible, and what we’re tackling next.
WHAT WE'VE ACHIEVED TOGETHER (2020–2024)
In just the last five years, the Green Lake Association has invested more than $3.76 million into high-impact, science-driven efforts to protect and improve Green Lake.
REDUCING PHOSPHORUS AT ITS SOURCE | $1,290,544
We’ve restored 3.5 miles of eroding streambanks to slow the flow of phosphorus into Green Lake—one of the lake’s greatest threats. By supporting local farmers with demonstration farms and equipment access, we’ve helped bring lake-friendly practices to life across the watershed. We also installed a phosphorus capture system in a high-impact area to filter agricultural runoff before it reaches the lake—an innovative tool we hope to scale across the watershed to maximize its impact.
DEFENDING AGAINST AQUATIC INVADERS | $520,440
To stop invasive species before they enter the lake, we installed Green Lake’s first self-service boat wash station at Dodge Memorial County Park, a “Clean, Drain, Dry” system at Horner’s Landing, and expanded watercraft inspection efforts at public launches—strengthening our front line of defense.
ADVANCING DATA AND SCIENTIFIC INSIGHT | $1,316,701
Through expert-led studies, we’ve uncovered where phosphorus enters the lake and how it moves through the ecosystem—helping us target solutions where they matter most. We’ve expanded high-quality stream monitoring to track real-time progress and guide smarter decisions. To guide the next phase of action, we convened a panel of nationwide experts to develop a targeted, research-backed path toward meaningful phosphorus reduction.
EMPOWERING OUR COMMUNITY | $630,335
From hundreds of volunteers to hands-on education, we’re building a culture of lake stewardship. Since 2023 through our Watershed Education Program, we’ve partnered with the Green Lake School District to launch custom classroom lessons—connecting the next generation to the future of the lake. In 2024 alone, 70 volunteers dedicated 578 hours to water quality monitoring as part of our Water Quality Ambassador Program, helping us better understand and protect Green Lake.
YOUR LEGACY DEPENDS ON YOUR ACTIONS TODAY.
Thanks to a decade of rigorous research, national partnerships, and community leadership, we’ve built the strongest scientific foundation in our history. Now, we have the tools, knowledge, and roadmap to restore Green Lake—and the time to act is now.
“Keeping Green Lake healthy isn’t just about next year or the next five years—it’s about the next generation and the ones that follow.”
— Mark Franzen, GLA Board Chair and Partner of Heidel House
Hotel & Conference Center
WHAT’S NEXT?
Here’s how the Our Lake, Our Legacy campaign will accelerate impact:
MITIGATE GREEN LAKE'S GREATEST THREAT
Securing Green Lake’s Future: A Dual Wave Approach
Green Lake is one of Wisconsin’s most iconic treasures thanks to its deep, clear waters. However, due to excess phosphorus, Green Lake is listed as impaired by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Nutrient pollution threatens the lake’s long-term health by clouding the water, fueling nuisance plant growth, and increasing the risk of harmful blue-green algae blooms.
To reverse the trend of nutrient pollution and remove Green Lake from the impaired waters list, we’re tackling Green Lake’s challenges in two waves:
Wave 1: In the Lake: Reducing Legacy Phosphorus
Decades of runoff have left behind a legacy of phosphorus trapped in Green Lake’s sediments. Even without new inputs, this internal phosphorus can recycle back into the water—fueling ongoing water quality issues.
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Wave 2: On the Land: Addressing Phosphorus at the Source
To drive long-term progress, we’re designing solutions that prevent phosphorus from reaching the lake—while balancing a diverse set of community needs and maintaining a strong sense of place. That means transforming land practices and restoring natural filters across the watershed.
PROTECT GREEN LAKE AGAINST AQUATIC INVADERS
With thousands of boats entering the lake each year, prevention is critical. We’re scaling up inspections, expanding cleaning stations, and funding the targeted removal of carp to protect native ecosystems and reduce phosphorus stirred up from lakebed sediment.
DEEPEN OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE LAKE
Every lake is different—and protecting Green Lake requires unique solutions rooted in its unique science. By investing in ongoing research, monitoring, and data collection, we gain the insight needed to make smart, lake-specific decisions, track progress, refine strategies, and secure future funding.
MOBILIZE THE COMMUNITY
From classrooms to creek beds, we’re connecting people to the lake through hands-on learning and stewardship. Volunteers logged nearly 600 hours in 2024 alone, and our education programs are empowering the next generation to protect Green Lake for the long term.
BUILD CAPACITY FOR THE FUTURE
We’re strengthening the Green Lake Association’s ability to lead this work with excellence—from people and partnerships to tools and technology. With your support, we can scale proven solutions and ensure Green Lake remains protected for generations to come.
“Over my lifetime, I’ve watched Green Lake’s water quality decline—marked by worsening conditions, impairment, and other troubling signs. Gratefully, the GLA and its partners have systematically evaluated the causes of this decline at scale using cutting-edge science. And even better, we have the opportunity, ability and capacity to change this trajectory.”
— John Nelson, GLA Campaign Donor, Chief Technical Officer for Fitzgerald Asset Management and Adjunct Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering at UW-Madison
Our Shared Legacy
This campaign is about more than science and solutions—it’s about who we are as a community. Whether you grew up on its shores, fish its waters, or bring your family to its beaches, this lake is part of your story.
“It is about more than preserving the lake for us, it’s about safeguarding our valuable resource for the long term. This is our opportunity to pass a healthier lake and area on to many future generations.”
— Jerry & Judy Specht, GLA Campaign Committee Members, Longtime Stewards of Green Lake, and a Former GLSD Commissioner
