The lakes and rivers around Wisconsin’s capital city are severely impaired by nutrient pollution and subject to severe summer algae blooms. Rather than addressing the problem individually, the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District (MMSD) and neighboring communities are using an alternate, less costly and more effective approach to remove phosphorus and other excessive nutrients from the Yahara River watershed.Six cities, eight villages and five towns have joined the Yahara WINs (Watershed Improvement Network), a 20-year program aimed at reducing total phosphorus contributions from wastewater treatment plants, industries, urban stormwater and agriculture across the 540-square-mile watershed. Many other groups are actively involved
