It’s official! Just as we were waking up from ringing in the New Year, the Wisconsin State Climatology Office declared January 1, 2026 as the date that Lake Mendota officially froze for the 2025/26 winter …
Madison lakes
Be Careful on Frozen Lakes – Especially During “Shoulder Season”
Yesterday evening as sunset was casting a rosy pink band of light across the frozen surface of Lake Monona near Olbrich Park, two people skated across its newly frozen surface. This morning, a semi-frozen Lake …
Crazy-Clear Water in Madison’s Lakes? Thank a Tiny, Voracious Critter Called Daphnia
This may sound unusual, since Lake Mendota is not known for its clear water. In fact, in late summer, a Secchi disk usually only drops one meter into the green, murky water before it disappears. …
Meet Madelyn: Hasler Lab’s Summer Science Communication Intern
by Madelyn Anderson – “Water child.” That’s what my parents called me growing up in the land of 10,000 lakes, where they often found me exploring our local creeks, rivers, and waterfalls. The actual name …
Letter to the Editor: No, Madison’s Lakes Aren’t “Dead.”
The following is the Center for Limnology’s response (published Sunday, February 18) to a disheartening letter to the editor of the Wisconsin State Journal that proclaimed our lakes “dead” and declared it was time to …
What a Difference a Day Makes: Lake Mendota Goes From Blue-Green to Crystal Clear
by Anna Mueller – I showed up at the Center for Limnology’s Hasler Lab a few hours after the sun had risen and it was already getting hot. I was sweaty from biking to work …
Hasler Lab Open House This Friday, June 21!
Calling all lake lovers! (Or wetland enthusiasts, river runners, pond explorers, etc.) This Friday, June 21st, you’re invited to Hasler Lab’s Annual Open House. Each summer we pick a Friday afternoon to open the doors …
Where Does Lake Mendota’s 2022 Christmas Freeze Fall in Historic Ice Records?
For fans of ice fishing, ice skating, cross-country skiing and just enjoying a winter walk, this holiday season was especially timely. One year ago today, Lake Mendota was still making waves and waiting on its …
January Freeze Dates Becoming the Norm for Madison Lakes
When Lake Monona in Madison, Wisconsin froze over a few days after New Year’s Eve, it marked the beginning of “ice season,” a time of year when (once the ice gets thick enough, of course) …
Winter in Wisconsin: Life on Ice
For those of us lucky enough to live where our lakes freeze in the winter, one of the true joys of the season is getting out on the ice. Suddenly, a space that was only …