Watershed - Lake Wisconsin (LW19)
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Lake Wisconsin Watershed

Details

The Lake Wisconsin Watershed is located mostly in Sauk and Columbia Counties although the southernmost tip extends into Dane County. The watershed is named for Lake Wisconsin, an impoundment of the Wisconsin River created by the Wisconsin Power & Light dam at Prairie du Sac. As with virtually all the other watersheds in the basin, agriculture predominates. Other land cover in the watershed consists of broad-leaf deciduous forest, and grassland. Lake Wisconsin is also a major feature and covers 6.5% of the watershed's area. The Lodi Marsh State Wildlife Area is also in the watershed. The watershed is developing at a high rate. This development pressure may impact natural plant communities and habitat and cause water quality problems if not controlled. There is also significant development around the lake that has a potential impact to Lake Wisconsin and its shoreline. There are two USGS stream flow gauging stations in the watershed on tributaries to Lake Wisconsin. The stations measure the stream's flow, the stage and the rainfall and are located near Prairie du Sac.

Date  2002

Population, Land Use

Overall population in the Lake Wisconsin Watershed for 2000 was estimated to be around 14,300. Main municipalities include the villages of Dane, Merrimac and Poynette and the City of Lodi. Population growth in the watershed is high, most likely as a result of the watershed's proximity to the City of Madison.

Date  2002

Nonpoint and Point Sources

As with all watersheds in the basin, the watershed does experience problems as a result of nonpoint sources of pollution and has been ranked as a medium priority with respect to nonpoint source pollution reduction. Portions of this watershed east of Poynette and along the county border are atrazine prohibition areas. Point source discharges in the watershed have the potential to negatively impact surface water resources. The potential for groundwater contamination as a result of the former activities at the old ammunitions plant is also an issue. Currently, drinking water concerns have been addressed and the Army is taking aggressive steps to ensure safe water. There are numerous permitted point source discharges in the watershed. Industrial discharges include Chiquita Inc., Lodi Canning and the U.S.Army Badger Ammunition Plant. All of these discharge to groundwater, although Lodi Canning also discharges to Spring Creek, U.S. Badger Army Ammunition discharges to the Wisconsin River, and Chiquita discharges to Hinkson Creek. There are also several municipal discharges. Three of them, including Devil’s Head Lodge, Harmony Grove and the Merrimac WWTP discharge to groundwater. The Lodi WWTP discharges to Spring Creek, and Poynette discharges to Rowan Creek.

Date  2002