Protecting our lake starts with understanding what threatens it
If you’ve noticed green scum floating on Little Lake Butte des Morts during the warmest summer months, you’ve witnessed firsthand the effects of excess phosphorus in our water. While phosphorus is an essential nutrient for plant growth, too much of it creates significant problems for lake health, recreational use, and property values along our beloved shoreline.
As the newly forming Little Lake Butte des Morts Lake Association prepares for its official launch meeting on November 18, 2025, understanding phosphorus pollution and how to combat it represents one of the most important challenges we’ll tackle together as stewards of our community’s greatest natural asset.
Understanding the Phosphorus Problem
Phosphorus acts as fertilizer for aquatic plants and algae. In balanced amounts, it supports a healthy lake ecosystem. However, excess phosphorus causes rapid algae growth known as algal blooms, which can turn water green, create foul odors, deplete oxygen levels that fish need to survive, and even produce toxins harmful to pets and people.
According to recent reports, four of five lakes in Wisconsin’s Yahara Watershed received “fair” ratings for phosphorus levels and water clarity in 2024—a decline from previous years. Little Lake Butte des Morts faces similar pressures from multiple sources of phosphorus pollution throughout our watershed.
Where does excess phosphorus come from?
Phosphorus enters our lake through both “point sources” like wastewater treatment plants and “nonpoint sources” such as:
- Agricultural runoff carrying fertilizer and manure from farm fields
- Urban storm water washing over streets and parking lots
- Lawn fertilizers and yard waste (grass clippings and leaves)
- Pet waste
- Eroding shorelines and stream banks
- Sediment that has accumulated in the lake bottom over decades
Wisconsin Invests in Solutions
The good news? Wisconsin is taking phosphorus pollution seriously, and funding is available to help community organizations like ours make a real difference.
DNR Surface Water Grants provide critical funding
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources recently awarded more than $6 million in grant funding to 371 local organizations working to protect and restore surface water across the state in 2025. This funding comes through the Surface Water Grants Program, which leverages money from the state conservation fund to help communities accelerate water protection efforts.
For the 2026 grant cycle, the DNR will again award more than $6 million to eligible organizations, with pre-applications due September 15 and final applications due November 15. As a newly forming lake association, LLBDM will soon be eligible to apply for these competitive grants.
What can grant funding support?
Surface water grants can fund a wide range of locally-driven projects:
- Education programs on water quality and lake stewardship (up to $5,000)
- Planning grants for lake management strategies (up to $10,000)
- Water quality monitoring and ecological assessments
- Habitat restoration projects including shoreline buffers and native plantings
- Aquatic invasive species prevention and control
- Watershed management and phosphorus reduction initiatives
- Management plan implementation (up to $200,000 for large projects)
Grants operate on a reimbursement basis and require matching funds from 25% to 33% of the total project cost. Lake associations, counties, municipalities, and nonprofit conservation organizations are all eligible to apply.
Watershed-Level Strategies That Work
Effective phosphorus management requires coordinated action across entire watersheds. Several Wisconsin communities have demonstrated successful approaches:
The Yahara WINS Partnership in the Madison area represents one of the most ambitious watershed management efforts in the state. Founded in 2017 as a 20-year initiative, this partnership of municipalities, organizations, and the Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District is exceeding annual goals for phosphorus mass reductions to receiving streams.
Producer-Led Watershed Protection Grants support farmer-led conservation groups working to reduce agricultural runoff. Wisconsin’s Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection provides funding for these grassroots efforts that implement practices like cover crops, conservation tillage, and buffer strips to keep nutrients on the land rather than in the water.
The Healthy Lakes & Rivers Initiative provides grants up to $1,000 per best practice for shoreline property owners who install rain gardens, native plantings, and other simple, low-cost practices that filter runoff before it reaches the lake.
What You Can Do Right Now
While large-scale watershed projects take time to plan and implement, individual property owners can take immediate action to reduce phosphorus pollution. Here are proven strategies that make a measurable difference:
1. Keep organic matter off hard surfaces
Leaves, grass clippings, and other yard waste contain significant amounts of phosphorus. When these materials wash from streets, driveways, and sidewalks into storm drains, that phosphorus flows directly into our lake without any treatment.
- Blow or rake leaves onto your lawn instead of into streets
- Keep grass clippings on the lawn where they decompose and feed your turf
- Remove debris from storm drains near your property
- Create a compost pile away from the water for organic materials
2. Eliminate or minimize lawn fertilizer use
Wisconsin soil naturally contains nutrients, and most established lawns don’t need additional fertilizer. If you must fertilize, choose products with zero phosphorus (look for a middle number of “0” in the N-P-K formula, such as 22-0-15).
- Test your soil before applying any fertilizer to determine what nutrients are actually needed
- Apply fertilizer in September rather than spring to minimize runoff
- Use half the recommended amount and observe results before applying more
- Never apply fertilizer before heavy rain or on frozen ground
3. Create natural shoreline buffers
A vegetated buffer along the shoreline is the single most effective practice for filtering runoff and protecting water quality. Natural plantings with deep root systems absorb phosphorus and other pollutants while stabilizing soil and preventing erosion.
- Stop mowing the first 10-35 feet from the water’s edge
- Plant native trees, shrubs, and perennials that thrive in shoreline conditions
- Create curving edges between your lawn and buffer for aesthetic appeal
- Maintain paths and sight lines to the water while preserving buffer vegetation
Benefits of shoreline buffers include:
- Filtering runoff and capturing pollutants
- Preventing erosion and stabilizing shorelines
- Providing wildlife habitat for birds, butterflies, and beneficial insects
- Creating privacy screens from neighbors
- Deterring geese (which prefer open lawn access to water)
- Protecting property from wind and waves
4. Manage water flow on your property
Direct downspouts into lawns and planted areas rather than onto driveways where water runs directly to storm drains. Consider installing rain gardens—shallow depressions planted with native species—that capture and filter runoff from roofs, driveways, and other hard surfaces.
5. Pick up pet waste
Pet waste contains phosphorus along with harmful bacteria. Always bag and properly dispose of waste from yards, parks, and shorelines. Never allow pet waste to wash into the water.
6. Use phosphate-free household products
While laundry detergents have been phosphate-free since 1994, and Wisconsin banned phosphates in dishwasher detergent in 2010, some cleaning products still contain these chemicals. Choose low- or no-phosphate alternatives.
Building Our Lake Association: Next Steps
The formation of the Little Lake Butte des Morts Lake Association represents a critical milestone in our community’s ability to access grant funding and implement coordinated lake management strategies.
Mark your calendar for our official launch meeting:
Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at 6:00 PM Appleton Yacht Club
During the formation meeting this past summer, approximately 30 community members from Neenah, Menasha, and Fox Crossing voted unanimously to move forward with creating a formal lake association. The Cities of Menasha and Neenah each committed $5,000 in seed funding to support the association through the remainder of 2025.
Why a lake association matters:
- Grant Access: Organizations can apply for DNR surface water grants and other funding that individual property owners cannot access
- Collective Voice: Organized representation when working with municipalities, the DNR, and other agencies
- Coordinated Management: Unified approach to water quality monitoring, invasive species control, and habitat restoration
- Property Value Protection: Proactive lake management protects and enhances shoreline property values
- Watershed Advocacy: Ability to address upstream nutrient loading that affects the entire lake system
A Long-Term Commitment to Water Quality
Improving lake water quality is a marathon, not a sprint. Grant application and funding cycles alone can take 12-18 months from application to project implementation. Phosphorus reduction efforts require sustained commitment over 5-10 years to show measurable results.
However, the investment pays dividends in clearer water, healthier fish populations, better recreational opportunities, and stronger property values. Wisconsin communities that have committed to watershed-scale phosphorus management are demonstrating that success is achievable when lake organizations, municipalities, and residents work together.
Resources and next steps:
- DNR Surface Water Grants: dnr.wi.gov/aid/SurfaceWater.html
- Healthy Lakes & Rivers Program: healthylakeswi.com
- Wisconsin Lakes Partnership: wisconsinlakes.org
- Contact your local DNR lake specialist to discuss water quality concerns and funding opportunities
Whether you’re a lakefront property owner, a regular lake user, or simply someone who values this community treasure, you have a role to play in protecting Little Lake Butte des Morts. Join us on November 18 as we officially launch our lake association and begin the important work of ensuring clean, clear water for generations to come.
Together, we can keep phosphorus where it belongs—nourishing plants on land, not fueling algae blooms in our lake.
To learn more about the Little Lake Butte des Morts Lake Association or to get involved, visit LLBDM.org.