Contact:
James Tye, Vice President
Clean Lakes Alliance, of Dane County
james@cleanlakealliance.com
Office: (608) 255-1000, Mobile: (608) 628-6655
Madison man wins Mendota Freeze Contest grand prize
MADISON, WI – The Clean Lakes Alliance (CLA), in an effort to bring awareness about our lakes being “frozen assets,” has partnered with the Wisconsin State Climatology Office for the Mendota Freeze Contest to guess the date Lake Mendota officially freezes. As of today, the Climatology Office has declared that Lake Mendota officially froze on January 14th, 2013.
James Tye, Vice President of CLA, said, “There are many benefits to the lakes freezing. Less ice cover means greater evaporation, which leads to lower water levels and a possible increase in lake-effect snows. And, of course, there are all sorts of recreational opportunities on our lakes when they’re frozen.”
Lack of ice can reduce winterkill of predatory fishes, which can lead to overkill of their prey, small-bodied fishes that are adapted to frozen lakes. If there is not enough ice cover, photosynthesis continues later in fall and starts earlier in spring, affecting a lake’s metabolic balance on the whole.
Starting December 1st, 2012, anyone could go to mendotafreeze.com to submit a guess for the day Lake Mendota would officially freeze. Over 800 people entered the contest, which is nearly double the participation from last year. The Wisconsin State Climatology Office has been tracking freeze dates for the last 160 years, back to 1853. In 2012, Lake Mendota froze on the same day, January 14th, 2012.
The winner of the grand prize cross-country ski package from Erehwon Mountain Outfitter is Thomas Solheim of Madison. It is a value of $327 and includes one set of cross-country skis, poles, boots, and bindings.
Sandy Webber won two 1-day lift tickets from Tyrol Basin Ski & Snowboard Area, Katerine Najduk and Matthew Ripp won $50 gift cards to Middleton Sports & Fitness, Tommy Purdom won a “Fun in the Snow” toy basket from Learning Express Toys, Gayle Brown won an Airhead snow sled from Fontana Sports Specialties, Tom Haberski won a “Warm You Up” gift basket from Yola’s Cafe & Coffee Shop, Sandy Harding won a “Family 4 Pack” from Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt, and Mike Walsh is the winner of a 4 pack gift card to Gigi’s Cupcakes.
The Mendota Freeze Contest was sponsored by Rayovac and Madison Magazine. The winter-themed prizes were donated by local businesses.
For more information on CLA, visit cleanlakesalliance.com.
About the Clean Lakes Alliance
The Clean Lakes Alliance (CLA) is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to the improvement and protection of the lakes, streams and wetlands of the Yahara Watershed. Through community support, advocacy and education, CLA is leading the charge to restore and protect the lakes for future generations.
