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Toast the lake, get an education

FONTANA — There's nothing quite like a morning stroll along its sandy shores, an afternoon sailboat ride on its calm waters and an evening dinner at a restaurant overlooking its majestic expanse.

But there's more to Geneva Lake than most people know.

It's beautiful. It's essential. It's vulnerable.

That's the message the Geneva Lake Conservancy wants to get out to residents and tourists spending time at the lake this summer.

The conservancy this weekend is unveiling its "Vulnerable Geneva Lake" informational coaster program, a series of four coasters with photographs of the lake on the front and facts about the lake, the watershed and their economic impact on the back.

"We're using as many ways as possible to help people understand why the lake is so important," said Katie Sullivan, membership and outreach coordinator at the conservancy. "This is just one more tool—and it's a unique one—that touches their awareness when they're here to enjoy the lake."

The conservancy will distribute 5,000 coasters to restaurants in Lake Geneva, Williams Bay and Fontana.

The project is funded by part of a $10,000 grant from the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation, which is committed to land conservation and artistic vitality for communities in the Chicago area.

"It's like Trivial Pursuit for Geneva Lake," said Joseph McHugh, executive director of the conservancy. "Everybody knows subconsciously that the lake is a beautiful resource … and this is one more way to be reminded of it."

The photographs come from local nature photographer Kristen Westlake, and the lake facts were gleaned from a 2006 study conducted by the UW-Whitewater Department of Fiscal and Economic Research Center.

"Because there was so much information, we had to pick what was most 'tidbity,' what lent itself best to a sound bite," Sullivan said. "We only had so much space."

The conservancy made sure to couple basic facts with a call to action—a plea to residents and tourists to take responsibility to protect the lake they love.

"Take the time to learn about Geneva Lake and discover what you can do to keep it a prized resource for generations to come," reads the back of each coaster.

The conservancy plans to print and distribute coasters every year at the start of summer. If the coaster program is successful, the conservancy hopes to expand it to include more facts, more lakes and more communities in the county.

"We want to build up the program to the point where every restaurant in the county has a coaster," McHugh said.

Despite its name, the Geneva Lake Conservancy—a nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of environmentally sensitive lands—serves the entire county.

So far, the conservancy is optimistic the "Vulnerable Geneva Lake" coaster program will open people's eyes to the stunning yet fragile body of water.

"I think people will really like it," McHugh said. "The fact that every one of these restaurants have joined in so far, the fact that they took advantage of this opportunity is a great indication of how successful this is going to be."