🧊 Ice, Ice, Maybe?

WI on the rocks

The icy truth: What data from the "world's most studied lake" says about Wisconsin's winter ice

Madison, WI is known for quite-a-many things. Badger game days. Pitchers on the UW Terrace. That naked bicycle parade around the capital that makes us question the very threads of society ("Criminy, how's he even sitting like that?!").

But it's also more nobly known as the "birthplace of Limnology," with Lake Mendota being the crown jewel of inland lake research.

And as Wisconsin's winter looms ahead (*sigh*), a trove of past-data raises concerns for Wisconsin's lake ice (and the ecosystem at large).

Warmer winters = less ice

For over a century, conservationists have tracked the icing-over of Madison's lakes, using the data as markers of the local ecosystem and climate.

Although season-to-season fluctuations are common, the data shows a downward-trend of 'days with ice cover' on Madison's lakes, estimated to be around 29 - 35 less days over the past 150 years. Hey, the Chicago Bears are on a downward trend too!

Essentially, all the longest - "best" - ice seasons are at the beginning of the ledger, while most of the shorter ice seasons are more recent.

Ecosystems on thin ice

Just like that 6-pack of Miller in your cooler, lakes rely on winter ice to regulate water temperature. Ice also improves oxygen levels, reduces light penetration, blocks wind from disturbing fish nesting, and supports other crucial parameters for healthy lakes.

With warmer waters, however, lakes are more susceptible to invasive species of flora and fauna that can destroy the natural ecosystem, which creates a whole new set of challenges even as winter comes to an end.

Where ecosystem meets economy

The receding of Wisconsin's winter ice not only spells catastrophe for our aquatic friends in our lakes, it also means bad business for the $3.5 billion generated from winter tourism across the Great Lakes.

Folks from all over the country and world (read: FIBs) flock to Lakes Superior and Michigan every year to partake in ice fishing, cross-country skiing, fat bike racing, curling, hiking, ice sailing, and more.

Sadly, the little shanty towns speckled along our lakes that rely on this tourism money may soon disappear along with the ice.

And not just livelihoods, but lives as well

The warmer winters not only hurt our pocketbooks and ecosystems, they also claim lives through unsafe ice conditions.

Everyone knows that die-hard ice fisherman or snowmobiler who just can't seem to stay off the lakes, no matter the ice conditions.

With less ice coverage and thinner ice, deadly conditions arise, resulting in more than 200 rescues and three dozen fatalities in ice accidents on the Great Lakes in the past 5 years.

Like our Wisconsin Badgers, it's hard to predict what new challenges each season will bring. If you'd like to step up and do your part, check out opportunities at the Clean Lakes Alliance or Alliance for the Great Lakes.