Walworth
No
No
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Lake Geneva does have a swimmers itch problem, annually. Many attempts have been made to reduce it or control it but have been unsuccessful. Historically the problem tends to start in the eastern (more shallow end) portion of the lake and gradually move west where the water is deeper. The release of the organism from the snail is temperature dependent so this makes sense. All lot is also dependent on the direction of the wind since the organism can't swim it is easily blown around the lake by the wind and if you are swimming in shallow water and the wind is blowing in you are more likely to be exposed to the organism than if you would be if the wind were blowing out. Kids that play in the shallow water can be most suseptible because they are in and out of the water a lot which is part of the problem.
We typically recommend using a towel to dry off immediately after getting out of the water, this helps to "brush" off the organisms which causes the itch. I have also heard reports of some sun blocks that act as a barrier to swimmers itch but don't know the details to this.
Typically a topical anti-itch medicine provide sufficient relief but before doing anything you may want to see a doctor. There are other things in our lakes that can cause some folks to itch specifically some algae. I am not aware of Lake Geneva having problems with this however. [Bob Wakeman, SER Lake Manager, 2005 email correspondence]
Date 2005
Author Aquatic Biologist
General Condition
Linn/Robinson Public Beach was assessed for the 2018 listing cycle; E. coli data sample data were clearly below the 2018 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Recreation use. This beach was meeting this designated use and was not considered impaired.
Date 2017
Author Ashley Beranek
General Condition
Big Foot Beach SP Swim Area was assessed for the 2018 listing cycle; E. coli data sample data were clearly below the 2018 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Recreation use. This beach was meeting this designated use and was not considered impaired.
Date 2017
Author Ashley Beranek
General Condition
City of Lake Geneva Public Beach was assessed for the 2018 listing cycle; E. coli data sample data were clearly below the 2018 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Recreation use. This beach was meeting this designated use and was not considered impaired.
Date 2017
Author Ashley Beranek
General Condition
Linn Pier Road Beach was assessed for the 2018 listing cycle; E. coli data sample data were clearly below the 2018 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Recreation use. This beach was meeting this designated use and was not considered impaired.
Date 2017
Author Ashley Beranek
General Condition
Village of Fontana Public Beach was assessed for the 2018 listing cycle; E. coli data sample data were clearly below the 2018 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Recreation use. This beach was meeting this designated use and was not considered impaired.
Date 2017
Author Ashley Beranek
General Condition
Williams Bay Public Beach was assessed for the 2018 listing cycle; E. coli data sample data were clearly below the 2018 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Recreation use. This beach was meeting this designated use and was not considered impaired.
Date 2017
Author Ashley Beranek
General Condition
Geneva Lake (758300) was assessed during the 2016 listing cycle; total phosphorus and chlorophyll sample data were clearly below 2016 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Recreation use and Fish and Aquatic Life use. This water was also assessed for chlorides and sample data were clearly below 2016 WisCALM chronic and acute listing criteria for the Fish and Aquatic Life use. This water is meeting these designated uses and is not considered impaired.
Date 2015
Author Ashley Beranek
Condition
Wisconsin has over 84,000 miles of streams, 15,000 lakes and milllions of acres of wetlands. Assessing the condition of this vast amount of water is challenging. The state's water monitoring program uses a media-based, cross-program approach to analyze water condition. An updated monitoring strategy (2015-2020) is now available. Compliance with Clean Water Act fishable, swimmable standards are located in the Executive Summary of Water Condition in 2018. See also the 'monitoring and projects' tab.
Reports
Recommendations
Habitat Restoration - Shoreland
Walworth County will continue the Walworth County Lakes Specialist position for one year. The Lakes Specialist will provide educational information to lake residents regarding shoreline stabilization and shoreline restoration. The Lakes Specialist will also design shoreline restoration projects for interested landowners, provide technical assistance to contractors and hold workshops on shoreland restoration.
Protect Riparian or Shorelands
Walworth County will implement the Shoreland Protection Initiative project that includes: 1. A baseline lakeshore inventory; 2. ten lakshore demonstration sites; 3. the preparation of lake lawn and yard nutrient management plans; 4. fact sheets on lakeshore stabilization, shoreland buffers, shoreland regulations and lawn care; 5. an annual lakeshore inventory and distribution of shoreland regulation materials; 6. formation of a Walworth Co. Lakes Association and meetings with and newsletter pertaining to Walworth Co. lakes; 7. Workshops, information packets and news articles pertaining to the Fox river Basin Partnership Team Lakes Initiative; and 8. the formation of the Walworth County Land Conservancy.
Stormwater Planning, Implementation
As part of this stormwater management plan implementation, the city will construct 2 stormwater detention ponds with LPT program funding.
Diagnostic/Feasibility Assessment
The Geneva Lake Environmental Agency proposes to conduct a diagnostic feasibility study for Lake Geneva in Walworth County. 1) 3 year water quality monitoring program, 2) lake sediment core collection and analysis, 3) evaluation of the hydrological regime of and pollutant loading potential of selected streams draining into the lake, 4) quantification and assessment of the quality and status of biological communities in the lake, 5) public information and issues surveys, and 6) preparation and refinement of comprehensive watershed and lake management plans for the lake.
Rivers Planning Grant
LPL-792 Town of Linn 2020 Comprehensive Plan
Management Goals
Wisconsin's Water Quality Standards provide qualitative and quantitative goals for waters that are protective of Fishable, Swimmable conditions [Learn more]. Waters that do not meet water quality standards are considered impaired and restoration actions are planned and carried out until the water is once again fishable and swimmable
Management goals can include creation or implementation of a Total Maximum Daily Load analysis, a Nine Key Element Plan, or other restoration work, education and outreach and more. If specific recommendations exist for this water, they will be displayed below online.
Monitoring
Monitoring the condition of a river, stream, or lake includes gathering physical, chemical, biological, and habitat data. Comprehensive studies often gather all these parameters in great detail, while lighter assessment events will involve sampling physical, chemical and biological data such as macroinvertebrates. Aquatic macroinvertebrates and fish communities integrate watershed or catchment condition, providing great insight into overall ecosystem health. Chemical and habitat parameters tell researchers more about human induced problems including contaminated runoff, point source dischargers, or habitat issues that foster or limit the potential of aquatic communities to thrive in a given area. Wisconsin's Water Monitoring Strategy was recenty updated.
Grants and Management Projects
Monitoring Projects
| WBIC | Official Waterbody Name | Station ID | Station Name | Earliest Fieldwork Date | Latest Fieldwork Date | View Station | View Data |
|---|
| 758300 | Geneva Lake | 653288 | Geneva Lake - Big Foot State Park Beach | 6/22/1993 | 8/19/2024 | Map | Data |
| 758300 | Geneva Lake | 10006675 | Geneva Lake | 11/18/1939 | 8/7/2024 | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Geneva Lake is located in the White River and Nippersink Creek watershed which is 168.35 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (44.80%), forest (14.40%) and a mix of wetland (11.30%) and other uses (29.50%). This watershed has 239.00 stream miles, 8,603.24 lake acres and 10,838.84 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked High for runoff impacts on streams, Medium for runoff impacts on lakes and High for runoff impacts on groundwater and therefore has an overall rank of High. This value can be used in ranking the watershed or individual waterbodies for grant funding under state and county programs.However, all waters are affected by diffuse pollutant sources regardless of initial water quality. Applications for specific runoff projects under state or county grant programs may be pursued. For more information, go to surface water program grants.