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Kevin F. Connors, Director

5201 Fen Oak Drive, Rm. 208
Madison, WI 53718
Phone: (608) 224-3730
Fax: (608) 224-3745
lwrd@countyofdane.com

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YLAG2 Draft Recommendations - Comments

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  1. Retain current water level orders until an observational network and modeling indicates a need for change in order to better balance public and private interests.
  2. Clarify implementation of Lake Mendota level orders when summer maximum are exceeded during high flows. (DNR)
  3. Coordinate lake levels in the Yahara River system and particularly Lake Mendota to remain high enough (summer minimum - 849.6) from March 15 to mid-May to allow fish to spawn, young fry to grow to sufficient size to survive once water levels are lowered as determined by Dane County and DNR Fisheries.
  4. Strive to operate Lake Kegonsa’s water level at the midpoint of the summer range from June 1 through September 1.
  5. Evaluate the winter minimum water levels orders on all the Yahara System to meet the public interests. – eg. fish and wildlife habitat.
  6. Centrally coordinate the operation of all permitted dams on the Yahara System to maximize efficiency in the system.
  7. Do not deliberately operate the lakes below current minimums as a means to provide flood storage.
  8. Develop operating orders to address operation of the Stoughton Dam in the event of a high water emergency based on modeling analysis.
  9. Explore water level orders that recognize that Lakes Monona and Waubesa act as one lake.
  10. Retain the existing lake level orders for the Yahara System.
  11. Manage Lake Mendota close to its summer minimum of 849.6 feet MSL instead of the near the summer maximum of 850.1 msl in order to provide more storage for major runoff events.
  12. Establish target "median" levels for the lakes.
  13. DNR should establish winter maximum lake levels.
Comments are listed in chronological order (Oldest to Newest):
Comment Text
This would be helpful for all aspects of the lake.
Waiting until june first to operate lake kegonsa's level will and now is causing problems for some lake owners. Today 4-15-12 I can not safely get my pontoon boat on my lift. Water level is below summer min. An inch or two above summer min allows me to launch my boat and to store on my lift.
I can't use my boat the water level is too low to get it on or off the lift. What's ghoing on. With the high taxes on low levels I'm in trouble. Let nature take over. The more do gooders try the worst it is.
I would ask that this be considered a minimum standard. In years past I have had to pull my boat lift further out to deeper water so as to float the boat. The shorline by my property is very gradual so the increase in water depth is not that great as you go out. Higher water would be better, but certainly this would be a good compromise. Thank You.
Two comments: 1. My first comment is simply one of practicality - our piers were registered, and cannot be extended to deeper water. Managing the lake level to the midpoint of the summer range will allow us to get boats off our hoists. Managing lake level to shallower depths will prevent some of us with riparian rights from practical access to this opportunity. 2. My second - equally practical - shallower water exposes more bottom hazards.
We are in support of this recommendation.
I live on the north side of Lake Kegonsa. At times when the water level is at or near summer minimum, I cannot remove my pontoon boat from the lift. I can barely remove it at the summer mid level. Please do not lower the levels previously set for lake Kegonsa. Tom Franke 3171 Sunnyside St. Stoughton, WI 608-877-0871 twfranke@msn.com
I have a home on Lake Kegonsa and strongly support this recommendation (1D). Often during the summer the lake level of Lake Kegonsa is kept too low for safe operation of boating craft. Operating Lake Kegonsa water level at the midpoint of the summer range would be a good start toward improved safety on the lake. When the water level is kept low, irrespective of our attempts at being careful and going slow, we have experienced damage to our boat prop. I am also aware of people on the lake who have had difficulty getting their boat off of their lift when the water level is kept low. Gene Hallongren (3116 Shadyside Drive, Stoughton).
We own a home at 3314 Quam Drive and for the last two years we have hardly been able to get our boat off the lift. In addition it is so low by the lift we have gotten sand into the engine which required substantial repairs. The lake level in the summer for Keognsa has made it basically a lake that cannot be used for recreational purposes. I certainly support leaving it at the midpoint.
If Lake Kegonsa water level is at of below summer minimum then the OHWM must adjusted accordingly thus allowing lake owners the ability to adjust their setbacks.
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Revised: January 26, 2011