Lake Mendota PWS Plan - Nine Key Element Plan
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Purpose

http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/nonpoint/documents/9kep/Lake_Mendota-Plan.pdf The purpose of this watershed plan is to assess the nonpoint pollutants in the Lake Mendota watershed and to guide the implementation of control measures. Implementation of best management practices to control polluted runoff and education are needed to meet very specific water resource objectives designed to protect and enhance Lake Mendota and other lakes, streams, groundwater, and wetlands in the watershed.

Objective

Sediment. and its associated nutrients. are deposited in streams. marshes. Lake Mendota. and other small lakes in the watershed. Nonpoint source pollution in the Lake Mendota watershed has led to a general decrease in the quality of the lake and its tributaries. The decrease over time in the number of wetlands. through ditching and conversion to cropland or development. has contributed to decreased water quality and unstable base flow fluctuations. Other sources of nonpoint pollutants in a watershed originate from stream bank erosion and some ·gully erosion resulting in sediment deposition in the stream or lake.

Outcome

Lake Mendota, a 10,000-acre glacial lake, is intensively used for recreational purposes including fishing and water contact sports. Excessive phosphorus loading results in noxious blue-green algae blooms and excessive weed growth. Most of the lake's water quality problems are linked to current and past rural and urban runoff carrying sediment. nutrients, and possibly toxins to the lake. About 50% of the original wetlands in the watershed have been drained or filled. A reduction in nutrient and sediment loading to Lake Mendota will likely result in improvement in the three downstream lakes in the Yahara Lake Chain--Lakes Monona. Waubesa, and Kegonsa. There are five major tributaries that drain directly into Lake Mendota: Pheasant Branch Creek. Dorn Creek. Sixmile Creek. the Yahara River. and Token Creek. Each of these tributaries is degraded from runoff pollution. Segments of the Pheasant Branch Creek. Token Creek. and the Yahara River have restoration potential if excessive sedimentation and nutrient inputs are controlled.

Related Reports

Run Project Summary Report
View Umbrella-Projects
View Related-Projects

Water Quality Planning
Priority Watershed Plan
NKE11
1997
Complete
 
Reports and Documents
Lake Mendota Capitol View
Lake Mendota Capitol View
Lake Mendota Tenney Park
Lake Mendota from Tenney Park Locks, facing Northwest. Photo taken 9/14/2012 Photo by Ashley Beranek
Nonpoint Source Control Plan for the Lake Mendota Priority Watershed
Lake Menota Priority Watershed Plan PWS, Plan Approved, June, 1997
 
Activities & Recommendations
Nine Key Element Plan
Lake Mendota PWS Plan - The purpose of this watershed plan is to assess the nonpoint pollutants in the Lake Mendota watershed and to guide the implementation of control measures. Implementation of best management practices to control polluted runoff and education are needed to meet very specific water resource objectives designed to protect and enhance Lake Mendota and other lakes, streams, groundwater, and wetlands in the watershed.
 
Watershed
Six Mile and Pheasant Branch Creeks
 
Waters
Lake Mendota
Monitoring Data
Lake Details