Dane County Water Trends John Magnuson & Sue Jones Dane County Lakes and Watershed Commission September 17, 2003

About the Lakes & Watershed Commission coordinating and advisory agency within Dane County government coordinating and advisory agency within Dane County government 10 appointed members represent urban and rural areas 10 appointed members represent urban and rural areas charged with protecting and improving water quality, as well as the scenic, economic, recreational and environmental value of Dane County water resources charged with protecting and improving water quality, as well as the scenic, economic, recreational and environmental value of Dane County water resources

Habitat loss & sedimentation Halfway Prairie Creek German Valley Branch Pleasant Valley Branch Syftestad Creek Token Creek Wendt Creek Henry Creek Habitat loss & low dissolved oxygen Yahara River Maunesha River Lake Koshkonong Impaired Waters in Dane County – (DNR, 2002)

Fish containing elevated levels of mercury or other contaminants Lakes Mendota, Monona, Waubesa Badfish Creek Toxics in water, other factors Wingra Creek Starkweather Creek Impaired Waters in Dane County, cont’d

Dane County outstanding resource waters (DNR) Mt. Vernon Creek Mt. Vernon Creek Crystal Lake Crystal Lake

Dane County exceptional resource waters (DNR) Black Earth Creek Black Earth Creek Blue Mounds Branch Blue Mounds Branch Deer Creek Deer Creek Dunlap Creek Dunlap Creek Elvers Creek (Bohn) Elvers Creek (Bohn) Flynn Creek Flynn Creek Fryes Feeder Creek Fryes Feeder Creek Garfoot Creek Garfoot Creek Milum Creek Milum Creek Rutland Branch Rutland Branch Ryan Creek Ryan Creek Schalpbach Creek Schalpbach Creek Sixmile Creek Sixmile Creek Spring Creek (Lodi) Spring Creek (Lodi) Wisconsin River Wisconsin River Little Sugar River Little Sugar River Story Creek Story Creek

Water clarity Waubesa, Kegonsa and Wingra show poor to very poor water clarity over time Waubesa, Kegonsa and Wingra show poor to very poor water clarity over time Monona and Waubesa remain mostly good to fair Monona and Waubesa remain mostly good to fair Clarity increases in drought years, and decreases in flood years Clarity increases in drought years, and decreases in flood years Sediment & phosphorus in runoff and related algae growth are key factors in water clarity Sediment & phosphorus in runoff and related algae growth are key factors in water clarity

Groundwater trends - increased nitrate and salt + decreased atrazine in wells - water level drawdown in central urban area urban area + rising water levels in other areas

“Cylindro” invasive subtropical algae found in Lakes Monona and Wingra invasive subtropical algae found in Lakes Monona and Wingra produces at least 3 toxins that may pose health risks to produces at least 3 toxins that may pose health risks to humans and pets humans and pets Lake Wingra research Lake Wingra research project may help in project may help in minimizing blooms minimizing blooms

Accomplishments – Water quality management stormwater ordinance implementation stormwater ordinance implementation stormwater permit compliance stormwater permit compliance awards from awards from –Minnesota Erosion Control Association –Wisconsin Extension Community Development Association Land & Water Resource Management Plan Land & Water Resource Management Plan

Accomplishments – Water quantity management Yahara Lakes Advisory Group – computer Yahara Lakes Advisory Group – computer model $ model $ MGE West Campus Cogeneration Facility water MGE West Campus Cogeneration Facility water mitigation mitigation Flood Mitigation Flood Mitigation Planning Planning Updated Updated floodplain maps floodplain maps

Accomplishments – Recreation & safety Updated user Updated user maps for Lakes maps for Lakes Mendota, Monona, Mendota, Monona, Waubesa, Kegonsa Waubesa, Kegonsa Rhythm & Booms slow-no-wake Rhythm & Booms slow-no-wake

Lake Property Numbering System

Zebra mussels & other invasives control adults found in Lake Monona in 2001 and 2002 adults found in Lake Monona in 2001 and 2002 ecological and economic impacts described in Commission report ecological and economic impacts described in Commission report public lecture and two public hearings held in June public lecture and two public hearings held in June

Eurasian water milfoil 2003 publication: Aquatic Plants in Dane County Waters 2003 publication: Aquatic Plants in Dane County Waters

Accomplishments – Information & education rain garden brochure rain garden brochure new storm drain stencils new storm drain stencils assistance to “Friends” groups assistance to “Friends” groups restaurant placemats restaurant placemats

Sunday June 15, noon - 4 pm Information Center at Arboretum, noon – 5 pm 20 tour sites

What's on the horizon for the Commission and staff? What's on the horizon for the Commission and staff? Yahara Lakes Advisory Group recommendations - flooding & lake levels Yahara Lakes Advisory Group recommendations - flooding & lake levels –infiltration –wetlands –continued work to fund computer model erosion control and stormwater ordinance implementation – clean up amendments? erosion control and stormwater ordinance implementation – clean up amendments? ordinance restricting P in lawn fertilizer ordinance restricting P in lawn fertilizer