The Department consists of five work units: Administration Division, Office of Lakes and Watersheds, Land Conservation Division, Land Acquisition Division, and Park Operations Division.

Administration Division

The Administration Division provides administrative oversight and support, and GIS services to the entire department. The Division is also responsible for watersheds and park planning.

Office of Lakes and Watersheds

The Office of Lakes and Watersheds coordinates water-related policy initiatives across the County, and informs and educates about water resource issues and actions citizens can take to protect lakes, streams and wetlands. The Office also provides staff support to the Dane County Lakes and Watershed Commission.

Land Conservation Division

The Land Conservation Division provides conservation implementation services to private landowners and land users in order to protect and enhance Dane County soil and water resources. The Division's three work groups provide conservation services on agricultural lands, conservation services to urban lands, and apply scientific methods to measure, monitor, and manage lake levels.

Land Acquisition Division

The Land Acquisition Division preserves, protects and acquires historical, archeological and natural resource lands for the protection, use, benefit, restoration and enjoyment of Dane County citizens and visitors. The Division also administers the County's land acquisition grant programs.

Parks Division

The Parks Division operates and maintains a system of 33 parks, natural resource areas and trail corridors for the citizens of and visitors to Dane County. The Division is organized into five work units: visitor services and enforcement, land maintenance and development, adult conservation team, locks and dam operations and aquatic plant harvesting, and the Lussier Family Heritage Center.

Alerts and Updates

• Slow No Wake Eased on Lake Mendota but Continues for Lakes Monona, Waubesa, and Kegonsa.
• Dane County Parks Archery Hunt 2007-2008
• New Erosion Control and Stormwater Management Permits page
• Frequently Asked Questions about Blue-Green Algae

Annual Reports

• 2007
• 2006

On the Dane County Website

• Lake Level Data
• Boating Information & Fees
• Tenney Park Locks Hours
• Lakes & Watershed General Info
• Aquatic Plant Management
  • "Weed" harvester locations
• Lake Maps
• Marine and Trail Enforcement

Elsewhere on the Web

• City of Madison Beaches
• Coast Guard Auxiliary (Madison area)
• UW Center for Limnology
• Hunting and Fishing Licenses
  Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
• Madison Lake Ice Summary
  University of Wisconsin Extension
• Wisconsin Lakes Partnership
  Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
• Water Resources in Wisconsin
  United States Geological Survey
• Web Cam of Lake Mendota
  Courtesy UW-Madison Soil Sciences
• Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District