Bill Novak
The Capital Times

A small army of shovel- and rake-wielding volunteers will head to the shorelines the next two Saturdays for the 20th straight year of spring cleaning of weeds, trash and gunk from the water's edge of Dane County's five main lakes.

The cleanups are a central focus of the 13th annual Take a Stake in the Lakes week of activities, with other activities ranging from the first Clean Lakes Festival to ski shows, rowing camps and pontoon rides, all in celebration of Madison's greatest natural resource.

To kick it all off, "water champions" will be honored tonight by the Dane County Lakes and Watershed Commission at the County Board meeting.

Recipients for 2007 include farmer and conservationist Steve Haak, Department of Natural Resources researcher Jennifer Hauxwell, the Yahara Waterways water trail project team and Glenn Stephens Elementary School in Madison.

"This year's award winners illustrate the great things that individuals, organizations and youth are doing to protect and improve our lakes, rivers and drinking water," said Brett Hulsey, who chairs the Lakes and Watershed Commission.

Protecting, improving and celebrating our lakes is the focus of lakes week, which has events planned every day from this Saturday to June 17.

"We've achieved a lot of our goals but we have a lot more to go," Hulsey said. "It's a constant march toward cleaner lakes."

The events of Take a Stake in the Lakes week include:

* Cleanup: Volunteers will hit the shores Saturday on Lakes Mendota and Kegonsa to rake, shovel and pick weeds, garbage and other stuff from the shore and near shore areas of the two lakes. The cleanup lasts from 9 a.m. to noon; the information center/headquarters this year is in a new location at Warner Park. Contact Rhea Stangel-Maier in the county Parks Department for more information, 224-3601.

* Clean Lakes Festival: A new event Saturday sponsored by the Mad-City Ski Team at Warner Park (see accompanying article), with a run/walk, live music, food, drink, exhibits, farmers' market, kayaking and more, from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

* Marquette Waterfront Festival: This is the 18th year for the Saturday and Sunday festival on the shore of Lake Monona in Yahara Place Park, two days of music, games, food and fun.

* Rain barrel day: Help Sustain Dane volunteers install rain barrels around the county from 9 to 2 on Saturday; contact Matt Krueger, 819-0689.

* Learn to row: Sponsored by the Mendota Rowing Club, this free event Saturday will give participants the chance to experience what it's like to be on a rowing team, 9:30-1:30 at the boathouse on Lake Mendota, 622 E. Gorham St.

* Pontooning: Youngsters learn to pilot a pontoon boat Saturday or can take a pirate pontoon ride, while history buffs can take a social history pontoon tour, sponsored by Madison School-Community Recreation, 204-3020.

* Family sailing: Work together on an 18-foot sloop-rigged boat with instructors from the Hoofers sailing club, pre-registration and Wisconsin Union membership required, 12-3 p.m. Saturday from the Wisconsin Memorial Union, 204-3020.

* Restoring the Arboretum: Help restore natural habitat of prairies and savannas by removing invasive plants and planting native seeds, 9 a.m.-noon Saturday at the UW Arboretum, 262-5604.

* Water ski show: The Mad-City Ski Team hits the water for its weekly free show Sunday at 6 p.m. on Lake Monona off of Law Park, next to Monona Terrace.

* Political paddling: The Rock River Coalition invites residents to chat with elected officials while paddling in a 25-foot replica voyageur canoe from Lake Waubesa to Lake Kegonsa, beginning at 4:30 p.m. Monday with a picnic; call 920-674-7297.

* Paddling lessons: Learn the basics of paddle sports Monday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Wingra Sailing Center, rowing with the Mendota Rowing Club from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Bernard's Boathouse, and water skiing from the Mad-City Ski Team from 6 to 8 p.m. at Law Park; call Madison School-Community Recreation, 204-3020.

* Guided lakes tour: Lake Waubesa Conservation Association sponsors a paddle tour Tuesday of Upper Mud Lake and northern Lake Waubesa, 5-7:15 p.m., from Rutabaga, 220 W. Broadway, Monona, 220-8751.

* Watershed walks: Take a walk Wednesday in the Upper Yahara River watershed with park ranger Brad Bates in Gov. Nelson State Park at 6:30 p.m. (state park pass required); call 836-1631, Ext. 159.

* DVD release party: From the Madison Area Municipal Storm Water Partnership, 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Orpheum Stage Door Theater; contact Marcia Hartwig, 224-3746.

* Lake Mendota paddle: A tour Wednesday of the northeast shore including Governor's Island, led by Mad City Paddlers, 5:30-7:45 p.m., 249-9976.

* Paddle to Work Day: At various sites around the county Thursday with one flotilla leaving Olbrich Park boat launch at 6:30 a.m.; call to reserve a spot in a 25-foot voyageur canoe or in a loaner kayak, 224-3764.

* Bike and pontoon: Bring your bike Thursday onto the pontoon and cross Lake Monona, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m., Olin Park to Vilas, 204-3020.

* Dinner pontoon ride: To the Beachhouse in McFarland, June 15 from 3 to 7:30 p.m., fee and registration required, 204-3020.

* Lake Mendota paddle: On the south shore between University Bay and the Memorial Union, 4:15-6 p.m. June 15, bring your own boat, personal flotation device and paddle, meet at UW-Madison Lot 60.

* Yahara/Cherokee Marsh paddle: Leaving June 15 from the School Road boat landing, 6:15-8:30 p.m., 241-5828.

* Lakes cleanup: The second part of the 20th annual cleanup, this time for Lakes Monona, Waubesa and Wingra; information/headquarters at Law Park on Lake Monona, 9-noon June 16.

* Starkweather Creek: Pull trash out of the water while paddling your own canoe or kayak, 9 a.m. June 16 at the boat launch adjacent to the Thai temple at Olbrich Gardens.

* Jazz on Wingra: Help clean up the lake 9 a.m.-noon June 16 and listen to jazz in the afternoon, at Wingra Park.

* Paddles and rides: Lake Wingra June 16 from 9 to 11 a.m. at Wingra Park, canoe instruction 10-1 at Brittingham Boathouse on Monona Bay, prince or princess pontoon ride from 9:30 to 12:30, pirate treasure pontoon ride from 1 to 4 and Harry Potter pontoon ride from 6 to 8, all at Tenney Park boat dock on Lake Mendota, 204-3020.

* Yahara restoration: Work in natural habitats in the UW Arboretum Grady tract at Seminole Highway and the Beltline, June 16 from 9 a.m. to noon, 262-5604.

* Family fishing: A fun way to learning how to fish, with demos, displays and games, 9:30 a.m.-noon June 16, Aldo Leopold Nature Center, 204-3020.

This story originally appeared in June 7, 2007, editions of The Capital Times. Bill Novak can be reached at bnovak@madison.com.