"Winterkill" is a natural process that happens when snow and ice cover a pond limiting the sunlight from reaching aquatic plants. When the plants die from lack of sunlight, they start to decompose, a process that uses oxygen in the water. If the decomposing plants use too much oxygen, fish and other aquatic wildlife can die. For fish growth and activity, 5-6 ppm of dissolved oxygen within the water is required.  Levels below 3 ppm are stressful for most fish.  Levels below 2 ppm will not support fish and most other aquatic wildlife.  No worries, nothing in nature is wasted.  These dead fish will eventually decompose or be eaten by local wildlife.

Land Stewards with Urban Ecology Center work in partnership with the MKE County Parks to increase the habitat quality as well as the recreational and aesthetic aspects of the waters within Washington Park.  In late winter through early spring, we host volunteer opportunities to clean out the litter.  Late spring through summer we focus on invasive species removal such as hybrid cattail growing within the emergent waters.  By fall and early winter, we transition to the removal of woody plant species encroaching the lagoon shoreline.  Come join us and help restore our outdoors together (ROOT) during one of the public, walk-in volunteer sessions.

Washington Park ROOT Volunteering- Thursdays 3:00pm – 5:00pm & Friday 9:00am – 11:00am