A group of graduate students from the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison worked collaboratively with representatives of the Eau Claire River Watershed Coalition (ECRWC) to create a conservation action plan for Lake Altoona. The ECRWC created a 9-key element plan in 2015-2017 and meets monthly to update members on the work undertaken (Eau Claire River Watershed Coalition, 2022). A primary concern of the residents of the watershed is the quality of the surface waters for recreational activities, and the focus of the plan is on reduction in sedimentation and runoff to the lakes, which have suffered an increase in algae blooms and beach closures over the past decade. Lake Altoona has been identified as the conservation target for this project because two main rivers, the Eau Claire River and Five Mile Creek, and numerous springs within the Eau Claire River Watershed flow into it, reflecting the state of the entire watershed. As one of the more popular lakes for recreation, it also receives significant attention from local residents.
UniverCity Contact Info: UniverCityAlliance@wisc.edu