Aquatic Plant Harvesting
Current Aquatic Plant Harvester Locations
Date: AUGUST 31, 2010
| Lake | Number of Harvesters | Location |
Mendota |
|
|
Monona |
|
|
Waubesa |
|
|
Kegonsa |
|
|
Yahara River | 3 | From Babcock Lock to Fish Camp Co. Park |
City/County Barge |
| |
The City-County Barge Shoreline Cleanup - Lakes Mendota and Monona
Dane County, in partnership with the City of Madison, will have a shoreline barge crew working to pick up aquatic trash and debris from residents' piers on Lake Mendota and Lake Monona through August. The pick-up will collect only aquatic vegetation and other debris that have washed up on shore. They will not pick up yard waste, brush or household waste. See schedule above for specific locations.
Contracted Aquatic Plant Harvesting
Dane County Land and Water Resources Department may provide services for the mechanical removal of
aquatic vegetation in waters where there is an approved DNR Aquatic Plant Management Plan. Applications
may be completed and sent to the Dane County Land and Water Resources Department at 1 Fen Oak Ct. Madison
WI 53718. For additional information you may call (608) 224-3730.
Harvesting Maps - Yahara Chain of Lakes
Aquatic Plant Harvesting Program
Dane County Land and Water Resources through its Parks Division manages an Aquatic Plant Harvesting
Program for County waters. Harvesting follows approved Aquatic Plant Management Plans for each waterbody.
Every five years the County must update these Aquatic Plant Management Plans for all waters where the
county may potentially harvest aquatic plants. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources issues
harvesting permits for each waterbody based on the existence of exotic species and the balancing of
in-lake plant habitat for fish, insects and other animals along with recreation and aesthetic considerations.
Working closely with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the County’s Lakes and Watershed
Commission, harvesting priorities have been developed. Harvesting priorities are used to guide staff in
balancing the needs for recreational access and Yahara River system flow with the need to protect and
encourage native aquatic systems. These harvesting priorities also guide staff in allocating available
County resources. Please note that not every area that is identified for potential harvesting will be
harvested in any given harvesting season, either because there is little to no plant growth, because
attention to higher priority areas does not permit it or due to budget restraints.
Harvesting machines are cleaned to remove potential invasive species such as zebra mussels before being
moved up the Yahara River to Lake Mendota or moving from the Yahara River Chain to another waterbody.
Plant harvesting for aesthetics and the collection of wind-blown plant fragments due to boat propeller
action generally cannot be accomplished as a priority given the size of the waterbody, extent of plant
growth, and limits of the equipment, staff, and budget.
Harvesting Priority Areas
Priority #1 – Maintaining Consistent Water-Flow through the Yahara River
This priority is assigned only to the Lower Yahara River between Lakes Waubesa and Kegonsa, and is
done to maintain water-flow and mitigate high water issues including potential flood conditions.
Cutting is confined to the deepest part of the river channel in order to maximize water flow downstream.
The section just north of Dyreson Road is rarely cut due to machinery hazards.
Priority #2 - Recreation and Navigational Access
This is the type of cutting traditionally provided by County harvesters: a 30 foot swath cut parallel
to shore with periodic 20 foot access lanes cut to open water, to provide for recreation and lake access.
These cuts are typically 4-5 feet deep. The cutting lanes are parallel to shore at a distance of 100-150
feet. This category includes cutting done to provide access from private shorelines, public Lake Access
Sites (boat landings), swimming beaches and developed public shorelines.
Priority #3 –Shallow Cut: Over exposed Eurasian Water Milfoil Plant Beds and the collection of
Filamentous Algae
Beginning in 2006, the DNR approved a program on the Yahara Chain of Lakes allowing for shallow cuts
(2-3 feet deep from the surface) targeting Eurasian water milfoil in order to provide better access
for recreational activity. A side benefit of these shallow cuts may be reducing filamentous algae
mats, which form and frequently sit on top of the Eurasian water milfoil. DNR is satisfied that the
shallow cutting will not harm fish habitat, leaving the anchored vegetation in place as habitat.
Priority #4 – Special Events
As time and budget permits, harvesters cut plants for special events held on or in the water. Only the minimal
amount necessary for the event is cut. These are not mapped because locations vary; however, two examples are
the mooring area for sailboat regattas held offshore from Bishop's Bay Country Club on Lake Mendota, and the
"Ironman" swim course near Monona Terrace.
Areas Not Identified on the map – Harvesting is not prohibited in these areas; they are typically not harvested
due to very minimal nuisance plant growth and budget limitations.
To locate where County harvesters are currently working or to view maps (Yahara Chain of Lakes) that provide a
general guide of the locations where harvesting can occur please view the Harvesting Map links listed above.
Please note that the width of the priority harvesting bands indicated on the maps was chosen to be visible at
various map scales, and does not indicate the exact extent of areas that will be harvested.
No-Cut Areas
No-Cut Areas – Native Plants
These areas have significant populations of beneficial native plants that Dane County, working with the
Department of Natural Resources, intends to protect and encourage. These areas are not all identified on
the map, as they may change from year to year. Additional areas will be added as they are identified by
DNR aquatic plant staff, and will be protected as much as possible. Example: University Bay of Lake Mendota.
No-Cut Areas – Machinery Hazard
These are rocky or shallow areas where the harvesting equipment cannot operate due to potential damage to
the equipment. Example: southwest corner of Lake Waubesa.
No-Cut Areas – Undeveloped Shoreline
These are undeveloped areas where access for motorized navigation is not needed. Example: north shore
of Lake Kegonsa between the Yahara River mouth and Door Creek.
No-Cut Areas – Fish habitat
These are important fish spawning and juvenile fish cover areas located outside of the typical harvesting
lanes, where harvesting would reduce fish production. Example: offshore from Hudson Park on Lake Monona.
