Yahara Lakes Advisory Group Recommendations for Public Comment

Public Comments are now being sought on the recommendations drafted by the Yahara Lakes Advisory Group II – or YLAG2.   Appointed by County Executive Parisi, I joined other city, village, town, county and regional planning representatives, user groups, lake associations' representatives and University of Wisconsin educators in carrying out our charge to examine the operation, physical constraints, and changing hydrology of the Yahara chain of lakes and make water level recommendations that balance public and private interests. Public interests include navigation, fish and wildlife habitat, water quality and natural scenic beauty. Private and cultural interests include historic values, riparian and business access and economic development.

We spent 12 months learning from experts about various topics affecting lake level management – from hazard mitigation to cultural heritage to wetlands and wildlife habitats to hydraulics – to help us carry out our charge.   In the end, we agreed on 41 different recommendations in categories that include water levels, watershed management, in-lake management, analyses and information/education.

A public meeting was held in late March to start the public input process, and the recommendations are now available for public comment on the web at http://www.countyofdane.com/lwrd/landconservation/ylag.aspx.  Comments will be accepted between April 12 – April 26th.    All public input will be considered by the group and final recommendations will be forwarded to the WI DNR – the agency charged with establishing lake levels for the Yahara chain of lakes. 

I have asked the County to also include on their web page information about lake levels and management strategies so that we can understand what actions they are taking to best manage lake levels.   That information is posted at: http://www.countyofdane.com/lwrd/landconservation/lakelevelpg.aspx

I always encourage constituents to contact Kevin directly at 224-3731 if they have concerns about the lakes  and of course, they are always welcome to contact me as well at 221-0514. 

November 5, 2011

                         Elevation     Change from 10/21   Summer Minimum

Mendota         849.92            - 0.07 ft                         +0.32 ft
Monona          844.68            +0.21 ft                         - 0.02 ft
Waubesa         844.24           +0.03 ft                         - 0.26 ft
Kegonsa         842.99            - 0.49 ft                         - 0.01 ft

 

 

Since the last report of October 21st , we have received 1.13 inches of rain.  The National Weather Service at the Dane County Regional Airport reported a total of 5.49 inches of precipitation since September 1.   We have received 25.79 inches of precipitation since January 1, 2011, - 4.81 inches below normal.  Last year, we received 35.29 inches of rainfall for the same year to date period.

 

Effective November 1st, we have begun transitioning to winter drawdown status on the Yahara Lakes. 

 

We have increased flow out of Mendota and will continue to bring that lake down.  

 

Because Lakes Monona and Waubesa have been below their respective Summer Minimum levels for a couple of weeks, riparian landowners have experienced difficulties getting their shore stations out of the water, on to shore.  We will continue the current water levels for Monona and Waubesa till  next Tuesday November 15th, then open up the dam at Babcock County Park. 

 

Lafollette Lock and Dam is completely open. 

 

Each lake has a "Winter Minimum" designated by the Water Level Orders.  These orders require that we not go below the respective levels. It our goal to maintain all lakes 0.2 ft above their respective winter minimum level.  This usually applies only to Lake Mendota, as the other lakes do not get close to their winter minimum levels.

 

This is ths last bi-weekly update posted until spring 2012.

October 21, 2011 Update

                        Elevation         Change from 10/7/11     Summer Min
Mendota        849.99                  +  0.06 ft                              +0.39 ft
Monona          844.47                  -  0.42 ft                              - 0.23 ft
Waubesa        844.21                   - 0.45 ft                              - 0.29 ft
Kegonsa         843.47                   - 0.10 ft                              + 0.47 ft

 

 

Since the last report of October 7th , we have received 1.01 inches of rain.  The National Weather Service at the Dane County Regional Airport reported a total of 4.32 inches of precipitation since September 1.   We have received 24.62 inches of precipitation since January 1, 2011,-  4.94 inches below normal.  Last year, we received 33.0 inches of precipitation for the same year to date period.

 

Lake Mendota  is in range.   We will be increasing flow out of Mendota this weekend.  

 

Lakes Monona and Waubesa both dropped about 2 inches over a 3 day period this past weekend.  We placed 6 logs on Monday and another 6 on Wednesday in the dam at Babcock County Park.  Only the lock gates are open to allow for navigation.  With the increase in flow out of Mendota this weekend, we hope to stabilize water levels for these 2 lakes prior to begin transitioning to the Winter Water level orders in November.

 

Lock gates remain closed at Lafollette. 

October 7, 2011 Update

                      Elevation         Change from9/23         Summer Max
Mendota         849.93            +  0.19 ft                           - 0.17 ft
Monona          844.89             -  0.04 ft                           - 0.31 ft
Waubesa        844.66              - 0.07 ft                           - 0.34 ft
Kegonsa         843.57              + 0.20 ft                         + 0.07 ft

  

Since the last report of September 23rd, we have received 1.79 inches of rain.  The National Weather Service at the Dane County Regional Airport reported a total of 3.31 inches of precipitation since September 1.   We have received 23.61 inches of precipitation since January 1, 2011, 4.82 inches below normal.  Last year, we received 33.0 inches of precipitation for the same time period.

 

Lakes Mendota, Monona and Waubesa are near their mid range.  We increased flow out of the Lafollette Dam to bring Kegonsa down to the mid range.  We have stabilized flow and will maintain current levels pending any additional precipitation.  "Summer Operating Orders" continue till November 1.

 

Beginning October 10th, we will begin removing navigational buoys from all waterways.  Piers will be removed from County Lake Access points with the exception of Babcock and Fish Camp.  These piers remain throughout the year.

 

September 23, 2011 Update

                    Elevation         Change from 9/9  Summer Max
 Mendota*     849.74*           -  0.02 ft*                - 0.36 ft
Monona         844.93              -  0.24 ft                  - 0.27 ft
Waubesa       844.73               - 0.25 ft                   - 0.27 ft
Kegonsa        843.37               - 0.02 ft                   - 0.13 ft

*  The Lake Mendota gauge was providing incorrect readings earlier this month.  The gauge was corrected by USGS and previous readings have been updated with correct data.

The National Weather Service at the Dane County Regional Airport reported a total of 1.52 inches of precipitation since September 1.   We have received 21.82 inches of precipitation since January 1, 2011.  This is 5.48 inches below normal.  Last year, we received 32.97 inches of precipitation for the same time period.

All 4 lakes are now near their mid range.  We have stabilized flow and will maintain current levels pending any additional precipitation.  "Summer Operating Orders" continue till November 1.

September 9, 2011

The following is an update for 9/9/2011

                        Elevation       Change from 8/27/11      Summer Max

Mendota         850.02            + 0.18 ft                               - 0.08 ft

Monona          845.17           +  0.03 ft                              - 0.03 ft

Waubesa        844.98            + 0.01 ft                               - 0.02 ft

Kegonsa         843.39            + 0.42 ft                               - 0.11 ft

The National Weather Service at the Dane County Regional airport reported a total of 1.16 inches of precipitation since August 27.   We have received 21.36 inches of precipitation since January 1, 2011.  This is 4.48 inches below normal. Last year, we received 32.16 inches of precipitation for the same time period.

  

We are decreasing each Monona, Waubesa water levels to their respective ranges.    Once we lower Monona, we will increase flow out Mendota to gain additional storage in that lake.

Lock gates remain open at Babcock to allow for navigation.

Lock gates remain closed at Lafollette. 

August 12th Update

                                    Elevation         Change from 7/23/11   Summer Max

 

Mendota         849.78               + 0.01 ft                        - 0.32 ft

Monona          845.01               +  0.05 ft                       - 0.19 ft

Waubesa        844.89               + 0.13 ft                        - 0.11 ft

Kegonsa         843.03                - 0.03 ft                        - 0.47 ft

 

We have received 18.18 inches of precipitation since January 1, 2011.  This is 3.87 inches below normal. Last year, we received 27.98 inches of precipitation for the same time period.

 

As lakes are near or below  mid range of their respective water levels, we continue to slowly stabilize flow from one lake to the other.  We have decreased flow out of Mendota, Waubesa and Kegonsa.  We have been able to stabilize Lake Waubesa water level by placing logs in each of the bays at Babcock.   The lock gates remain open to allow for navigation.

 

At Lafollette, 2 of the 3 bays are totally closed to keep Lake Kegonsa above Summer Minimum.  Lock gates remain closed. 

 

Currently 4 harvesters are in the river:   2 at Fish Camp and 2 operating out of the Yaeger loading site, immediately down stream from Babcock Lock and Dam.  We have 2 harvesters on Mendota in the Spring Harbor area,  and 2 operating in the Squaw Bay area. 

 

As we are starting to wind down harvest for the season, our weed scout will check Lakes Mendota and Monona for a final time.  Once these 2 lakes are complete, we will move harvesters back in to the river for a final clean up.

 

Many of your constituents may continue to observe large weed mats that get caught along the shoreline and piers.  These are not rooted plants.  Most instances we have filamentous algae intertwined with floating vegetation.   Wind or precipitation generally will break up these mats.  We have been collecting these dense mats in these areas as crews progress around the lakes.  However, at times, the wind may push these mats to other areas of the lakes that do not allow us to efficiently pick up in a timely manner for some residents.