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When organizations share a commitment to caring for land and water, meaningful partnerships can grow. That’s exactly what has happened through San Damiano’s collaboration with Clean Lakes Alliance.
For Clean Lakes Alliance, the connection to San Damiano felt natural from the start.
Located along the shores of Lake Monona, the property represents a rare place where people, water, and landscape meet in powerful ways. As an organization dedicated to protecting and restoring the Yahara watershed, Clean Lakes Alliance recognized that San Damiano offers a meaningful opportunity to highlight the importance of healthy lakes while welcoming the community to experience the shoreline firsthand. The site’s long history of care for the land and its unique lakeside setting makes it an ideal place to connect people more deeply with the waters that define our region.
One of the most visible ways this partnership comes to life is through volunteer service.
From spring through fall, Clean Lakes Alliance hosts weekly outings as part of its Volunteer Day program. Since 2023, one of those volunteer events each year has taken place at San Damiano. Volunteers have helped with invasive species removal, shoreline cleanups, trail maintenance, and even assisted with storm cleanup after several trees were brought down during a major storm.
For many volunteers, these days combine hands-on stewardship with the chance to experience a truly special lakeshore setting. The stunning views of Lake Monona and the fascinating history of the property make San Damiano a memorable stop on the Volunteer Day calendar each year.
For Clean Lakes Alliance, partnerships like this directly support their mission. Caring for and celebrating shoreline parks is a core part of their work. Collaborating at San Damiano helps bring people closer to the lakes—building a deeper understanding of why protecting them matters and inspiring long-term stewardship throughout the community.
Beyond volunteer work, San Damiano also contributes to lake research and public education.
The property serves as a monitoring site for Clean LakesAlliance’s Lake Forecast water quality program. Through this initiative, trained volunteers collect data on water clarity and temperature, observe beach conditions, and watch for signs of harmful cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) blooms. The information is shared publicly in real time through the Lake Forecast website and mobile app, helping residents and visitors stay informed while also generating valuable data for research and advocacy efforts.
This kind of monitoring plays an important role in raising awareness about both the opportunities and challenges facing our lakes.
Clean Lakes Alliance has spent the past 15 years building programs like this to protect and celebrate local waters. In that time, the organization has awarded more than $1.4 million in Clean Lakes Grants to support projects that improve water quality and strengthen stewardship efforts throughout the watershed.
Looking ahead, the partnership with San Damiano will continue to grow.
Another volunteer outing is planned for this spring, bringing community members back to the property to help care for the land and shoreline. San Damiano will also play a role in an upcoming community event connected to Clean Lakes Alliance’s Teejop Initiative. During this year’s Loop the Lake bike ride around Lake Monona, riders will encounter San Damiano and the Harry Whitehorse International Wood Sculpture Festival hosted on the grounds as the first stop along the route.
Together, these collaborations highlight the power of place. At San Damiano, people can experience the beauty of the lake while also becoming part of the effort to protect it for generations to come.
