May 28, 2011 Update

The following is an update on lake levels and management strategies for the Yahara chain of lakes provided by the Dane County Land and Water Resources Department.

Elevation        Change from 5/13/2011     Summer Max

Mendota          849.85               -0.10 ft                              - 0.25 ft

Monona           845.32              - 0.05 ft                              +0.12 ft

Waubesa         844.85               -0.06 ft                              - 0.15 ft

Kegonsa          843.30              +0.12 ft                              - 0.20 ft

We have received 8.81 inches of precipitation since March 1, 2011.  This compares to a normal of 8.30 inches. 

Lake Monona had a slight bump of 0.19 ft following the rain event this past week.  We expect Monona to continue to decline over the next couple of days.

As lakes have been nearing mid range of their respective water levels, we are slowly stabilizing flow from one lake to the other.  We have decreased flow out of both Mendota and Kegonsa as they are both at their respective mid range levels.  We continue to maintain full flow at the Babcock Lock and Dam.

Currently there is no vegetation present in the river between Lake Waubesa and Kegonsa.  We are deploying harvesters to areas where historically vegetation grows earliest in the summer

May 13, 2011 Update

                     Elevation       Change from 4/29/2011    Summer Max

 

Mendota         849.95             -0.20 ft                            - 0.15 ft

Monona          845.37            + 0.05ft                            +0.17 ft

Waubesa         844.91            -0.03 ft                            - 0.09 ft

Kegonsa         843.18             -0.18 ft                            - 0.32 ft

 

We have received 7.62  inches of precipitation since March 1, 2011.  This compares to a normal of 6.86 inches.

 

We are holding flow out of  the Tenney Dam steady.  As Lake Monona declines, we will continue to increase flow from Lake Mendota to Monona. 

 

Babcock County Park Lock and Dam remains completely open in full flow condition, since last April.

 

We will continue current flow out of the Lafollette Lock and Dam.  However, as Lake Kegonsa is below mid range, we may slowly reduce flow to keep the lake within its' respective range.

 

The current strategy is to get all lakes to their respective Summer Permit Range.  Pending total precipitation and runoff this weekend, we will continue to move water out of Lake Mendota, at a rate that we can safely pass through Lake Monona.

 

Once all lakes are in range, we will begin to stabilize flows, to get each lake to their mid range level.