The Friends of Cherokee Marsh invite all Friends members and the general public to our annual membership meeting on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, at the Warner Park Community Recreation Center. Doors open at 9 a.m, and the program will begin at 9:30 a.m. The morning will include updates from representatives of Madison Parks and Dane County Parks, the Friends’ year in review, and election of Friends board members, followed by our featured presentation on water quality issues.

A virtual meeting to update residents about the Warner Park and Cherokee Marsh Watershed Study was held in September. Madison’s Engineering Division is working to identify causes of flooding and recommend projects to reduce flooding in areas of high risk around the city.

There are active beavers at the two ponds along Wheeler Road in the South Unit of Cherokee Marsh Conservation Park.The City of Madison is working with an environmental contractor to protect the drainage culverts in the ponds without harming the beavers.Parks conservation staff will also consider how best to protect valuable trees.

Members of Scout troops 127 & 7127 spent part of a beautiful, dry day in October 2025 placing storm drain markers in Madison Northside neighborhoods that read "No Dumping • Drains to Lake"

We had more than 40 enthusiastic volunteers this year to survey 24 Dane County sites for aquatic invasive species.