Take a Stake in the Lakes--2012

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The 25th Annual Take a Stake in the Lakes

A volunteer cleanup of local lakes and streams will be held on June 9th (Lakes Mendota and Kegonsa) and 16th (Lakes Monona, Waubesa and Wingra), although volunteers can join in the fun anytime June 1-17.

Take a Stake event during 2010

"Unprecedented and exciting partnerships are coming together at a critical time,” said Dane County Executive Joe Parisi. “This year's Take a Stake in the Lakes will be bigger and better than ever. I encourage everyone who cares about our lakes not to miss this very special year.”

Created by the Dane County Lakes and Watershed Commission, the Take a Stake event has grown from two days of shoreline cleanups to a two-week series of events to protect Dane County lakes and streams.

This year, the Clean Lakes Alliance is partnering with Dane County Lakes and Watersheds to expand the event. Some of the area’s largest employers will be helping the effort. During Jazz in the Park on June 16 at Wingra Park, past and present volunteers, donors, coordinators and commissioners are invited to come together for a day of celebration and recognition.

Groups, clubs, individuals and families adopt beaches, shorelines, and streams to collect litter and rake aquatic debris. Some adopt boat launches while others paddle their canoes or kayaks to pick up trash. Others mark storm drains with messages reminding folks to keep trash, leaves and grass clippings out of the street gutters, which drain directly to our lakes and streams. Thousands of volunteers have removed hundreds of tons of waste all over Dane County over the past quarter century. Many groups celebrate afterward with a picnic.

Reserve your group’s favorite park, stream or shoreline soon. To volunteer for Take a Stake clean-ups as a family, an individual, organization or group, contact Rhea Stangel-Maier, Dane County Parks Volunteer coordinator, at 608-224-3601.

Businesses and other employers wanting to participate or become a sponsor should contact James Tye, Clean Lakes Alliance, at 608-836-4001 or james@cleanlakesalliance.com.

For a complete list of Take a Stake in the Lakes Days 25
th Anniversary events June 1-17, 2012, go here.

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Condensed from a press release dated 4/3/12.