State of the Yahara Lakes 2011
Released April 2012 at the Save Our Lakes Summit
State of the Yahara Lakes 2011
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Contents Foreward A Message from Dane County Executive Joe Parisi It's Time to Clean Up Our Lakes About the Clean Lakes Alliance Yahara Lakes and Watersheds About the Yahara Lakes Report Card Yahara Lakes Report Card Challenges Phosphorus Heavier Rainfalls Beach Closures Changing Agriculture Invasive Species Beach Closures Fishery Looking to the Future Community Action on the Lake Friends of Lake Wingra Acknowledgements On-‐line Resources References
Foreword
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3 4 4 6 7 8 10 10 10 11 12 12 13 13 14 15 15 16 16 17
Photos by Peter Patau, a Madison writer and photographer with a special interest in Madison-area lakes and waterways. His website is www.PeterPatau.com • • • •
Front cover, “Wisconsin Capitol Floating in the Cattails” Inside front cover, “Wingra Creek Dam” p. 12 “Summertime in Madison” p. 14 “Pickup Game of Hockey on New Year’s Eve”
• p. 14 “Upper Yahara Watershed”
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The Yahara Lakes are renowned worldwide for two reasons: (1) the study of inland waters (limnology) that began over a century ago on Lake Mendota, and (2) problems from noxious “blooms” or growths of blue-green algae that have occurred in the lakes for nearly as long. Prior to the 1970s inadequately treated sewage from Madison and surrounding communities provided the nutrients (principally phosphorus) to fuel the algal blooms until herculean efforts diverted the sewage away from the lakes. In more recent decades the sources of the phosphorus have become even more intractable to control. The pollution comes from agricultural and urban runoff from all the lands that drain to the lakes. Since the 1970s, a large group of dedicated scientists and managers have tenaciously worked on implementing programs and practices to reduce these diffuse sources of phosphorus. At the same time our understanding of the ecology of the lakes has greatly improved. However, like the returning summer season, one can depend on the local media running stories on water quality problems in the Yahara Lakes. Each year people clamor for cleaner lakes. Yet the media stories could be recycled; algal blooms never seem to go away as new challenges have offset prior pollution reduction efforts. I am hopeful that this new lake clean-up effort with a strong public and private sector partnership will finally help achieve the “Lakes of Silver” that local historian David Mollenhoff described as the reason why early settlers first came to the Madison area.
A Message from Dane County Executive Joe Parisi For many, warmer weather is synonymous with a day spent on one of Dane County’s beautiful lakes. Our lakes are a big contributor to the high quality of life we enjoy. To stay that way, the lakes need our protection, and we must all work together to make it happen. The good news is that unprecedented and exciting partnerships are coming together at a critical time for Dane County’s lakes. These relationships between local governments, agricultural producers, private groups such as the Clean Lakes Alliance, and the public, hold the key to reducing runoff that pollutes our water. In Dane County, a number of efforts are underway thanks to these partnerships, and through a new five year effort I announced shortly after I took office to address pollution target areas in our chain of lakes – The Dane County Water Partnership. A key part of my initiative is a historic partnership with Dane County’s farmers. Dozens of farm families are working with the county to implement practices to slow runoff such as building roofs over animal feeding areas, planting grass by farmland ditches, and digging out those ditches to remove decades worth of soil and sediment with a high concentration of phosphorus. We’re also excited to be moving forward with our second community ‘Cow Power’ facility in the Town of Springfield. This manure digester continues our partnership with the county’s agriculture community to remove phosphorus runoff from our waterways. This digester, similar to our first facility in Waunakee, will convert cow manure from farms into enough energy to power 1,600 homes, and create hundreds of jobs through construction. We are also addressing urban runoff sources. By partnering with municipalities, we are retrofitting pollutant pipelines that dump phosphorusladen pet waste, leaves and grass clippings from yards, and other debris directly into our lakes. What these projects have in common is a commitment from citizens on every level to be a part of the solution. Each one of us holds the key to cleaning up our lakes – whether you’re keeping pollutants from running into your storm sewer or you’re in your fields planting grass to slow down a heavy rain. It may not happen overnight, but by all of us pulling in the right direction, at the same time, across Dane County we can significantly reduce phosphorus pollution in our lakes.
Richard Lathrop Wisconsin DNR & University of Wisconsin Center for Limnology
State of the Yahara Lakes 2011
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It’s Time to Clean up our Lakes
About the Clean Lakes Alliance
The Clean Lakes Alliance (CLA) together with its partners, is proud to share with you the first ever State of the Lakes Report and the Yahara Lakes Report Card. The report you have in your hands now is a collection of data from scientists, parks and beach managers, local residents and business owners all of whom share an interest in cleaning up the Yahara Watershed and its Lakes.
Mike Gerner, Vice Chair, Board of Director Chair, Community Board Retired Partner - Grant Thorton
The Clean Lakes Alliance is a unique partnership established in 2009 with a goal of building on the decades of work already underway to restore and preserve our waterways. CLA was founded to administer the Clean Lakes Festival organized by the Mad-City Water Ski Team in an effort to raise money to help clean up the lakes. Today, CLA is working to build community support and the financial resources necessary to reach our goal: reducing phosphorus by 50% to help reduce algae blooms and improve water clarity. CLA and its partners are working with farmers to learn about and improve the way they handle fertilizers and manure. We’re helping them plant cover crops, which will reduce nutrient rich runoff. We’re active throughout the year organizing family friendly activities to encourage residents to get invested in their lakes, and we are supporting research and monitoring which will build the knowledge we need to make the best investments possible as we take action to clean up the waterways. Join us and learn more at cleanlakesalliance.com. Sincerely,
Russ Tieman, Mad-City Ski Team
Clean Lakes Alliance Board of Directors
Chuck Gates, Yahara Lakes Association Jeff Endres, Endres Berry Ridge Farm
Don Heilman, President Clean Lakes Alliance
Geographical Representatives
John Kothe, Chair, Board of Directors Vice-Chair,Community Board Kothe Real Estate Partners
Jacci Meier, Secretary Baird, Inc. Brian Potts, General Counsel Foley & Lardner LLP
Clean Lakes Alliance Community Board The Community Board of Directors is a composition of stakeholders, business people, and experts with a common goal to advance the Clean Lakes Initiative within the Yahara Watershed. The board will review the path and progress of the overall Clean Lakes Initiative including project prioritization, funding and execution. The Clean Lakes Alliance Board of Directors serve as the Executive Committee of the Community Board.
Stakeholder Representatives Dave Lumley, Spectrum Brands Kristin Kirkconnell, American Family Insurance Randy Peterson, Lands’ End Tim Metcalfe, Metcalfe’s Market Tyler Leeper, Wingra Boats Chris Clark, UW-Madison Men’s Crew
2011 - 2012 Supporters $2,500 +
Rob Klink, AA Seeds, LLC
Jim Lorman, Friends of Lake Wingra
Scott Maier, Maier Farms
Bryon Thompson, Friends of Lake Kegonsa
Bob Sorge, Regional Representative Madison Community Foundation
Jeff Endres*, Endres Berry Ridge Farm Will Hensen, Hensen Brothers Farm
Walter Meinholz, Blue Star Dairy Farms Bob Uphoff, Uphoff Ham & Bacon Farm
Mayor Bob Miller, Lake Monona Representative
Clean Lakes Alliance
David Fahey, Middleton Community Bank
Louisa Enz, Friends of Lake Waubesa
Yahara Pride Farm Conservation Board
Alliant Energy Foundation American Family Insurance American Transmission Co. (ATC) C.G. Schmidt City of Madison Cresa
Chuck Ripp, Ripp’s Dairy Valley
CUNA Mutual Group Dane County
Friends of Clean Lakes Board
Hellenbrand Inc.
Gordon Flesch Company, Inc.
Marilee Gorman*, Washington Equipment LTD
Ho Chunk Gaming
Louisa Enz, Stark Company Realtors
HyCite Corporation
Rich Lepping, Border Patrol of WI
Johnson Bank
Katie Crawley, City of Madison Mayor Designee
Trey Sprinkman, Sprinkman Real Estate
Lands’ End
Mellissa Mallot, Dane County Lakes and Watershed Commission
Will Sutherland, Robert W. Baird Co
Madison Community Foundation
Russ Tieman, Kelly Financial
Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District
Dave Merritt, Dane County Executive Designee
Bryon Thompson, TermSync
Madison Water Utility
Government/Municipality Representatives Kevin Connors, Dane County Land and Water Resources Department
D. Michael Mucha, Madison Metropolitan Sewerage District Lyle Updike, Dane County Towns Association
Talent/Knowledge Representatives Brennan Nardi, Madison Magazine Tom Groth, Thermo Fischer Scientific Jim Welsh, Natural Heritage Land Trust Lars Barber, Baird, Inc.
Staff Members Don Heilman, President James Tye, Director of Development & External Affairs Heather Allen, Policy and Program Manager Taylor Curley, Social Media Intern John Webb, Outreach Intern
Sponsors of the Save Our Lakes Summit, the State of the Yahara Lakes Report, 2011 Report Card
Metcalfe’s Market MG&E Foundation Smith & Gesteland Spectrum Brands Sprinkman Real Estate The Gialamas Company
Special thanks to our hosts and collaborators on the report
Thermo Fischer Scientific Wisconsin Distributors
* Denotes Board Chair
Don Heilman and James Tye
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State of the Yahara Lakes 2011
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Yahara Lakes and Watersheds The Yahara lakes have attracted people to this region for thousands of years. In prehistoric times, the mound building culture built mounds in areas with beautiful vistas overlooking each lake in the Yahara chain. The Wisconsin state capitol was sited here in part because of the appeal of the lakes. Today we enjoy the lakes for their beauty and recreational opportunities. Yet, you cannot live in this region without noticing the annual algae blooms, dead fish in green soupy waters along the shoreline, and beach closures that clearly show the lakes are facing challenges. This report focuses on the health of the lakes today, what has been done to try to clean them, and the promise of cleaner lakes in the next few decades if we work together as a community. The State of the Yahara Lakes Report also introduces the first annual Yahara Lakes Report Card. The report card contains information drawn from a variety of sources to help the community understand the lakes and to measure the challenges that impact lake water quality. Cleaner lakes will require community engagement and political action. Each of us, city residents, farmers, boaters, and property owners can play a role. When asked what the public can do, Susan Jones, Dane County Lakes and Watersheds Program Coordinator, encourages people to “get informed and get involved.” There are links at the end of this report to help you get more information, see where you are in the watershed, and see what groups are working in your area. The Yahara River Watershed includes Lakes Mendota, Monona, Waubesa, Kegonsa, and Wingra in central Dane County. The Yahara River flows south
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from Columbia County, through Lakes Mendota, Monona, Waubesa, and Kegonsa to the Rock River in Rock County. The watershed for each lake includes all the lands, streams and rivers that drain into the lake. How the land around the lake is used determines what goes into the lake when it rains. The portion of rainwater which does not soak into the soil but flows over the surface of the ground to a stream or lake is called runoff. Unless we actively manage land that is developed for farming, urban development, or other uses, the rain that falls can pick up nutrients like phosphorus, sediment, and other pollutants that can cause excessive algae growth and harm fisheries and water quality. The challenges facing the lakes were obvious soon after Madison was established as the capital. As early as 1882, the first noxious growth of algae was noted by local citizens. Civic leaders of the day tried many approaches to clear the waters of algae blooms and excessive aquatic plants. Today, the science of analyzing the sources of lake pollution is much improved. Management practices have been developed to keep the pollution from the lakes in both urban and rural areas. Farmers are encouraged to adopt conservation measures that keep manure and sediment from running off into lakes and streams. Local governments discourage residents from dumping oil and other waste into storm sewers. Municipalities clean streets of debris and leaves that can enter the lakes through storm sewers. Local governments have encouraged homeowners to build rain gardens and use rain barrels to keep stormwater from bringing pollution to the lakes.
About the Yahara Lakes Report Card Previous Lake Cleaning Efforts The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has sponsored many projects to clean the Yahara lakes. The 1981-1990 Lake Mendota Priority Watershed project promoted erosion control in agricultural areas and stormwater management in urban communities. The 1988-1998 Priority Watershed Project for the Yahara River and Lake Monona Watershed reduced agricultural sources of sediment by 48%. From 1993 to 2008 the Yahara Mendota Priority Watershed Project promoted traditional conservation practices such as grass waterways, contour strip cropping, streambank protection, barnyard runoff systems, nutrient management, and wetland restoration in the watershed for Lake Mendota. In 2008, a partnership called Yahara CLEAN (Capital Lakes Environmental Assessment and Needs) was forged between the City of Madison, Dane County, and the State Departments of Natural Resources (DNR) and Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP). This effort was designed to establish clear and achievable goals and an implementation plan for cleaning the lakes. The Yahara CLEAN partnership released its report, A CLEAN Future for the Yahara Lakes: Solutions for Tomorrow, Starting Today, in September 2010. The report identified 70 actions to help clean up the lakes. Moving forward from these intensive efforts, the signatory agencies for Yahara CLEAN have partnered with groups like the Clean Lakes Alliance to engage the community and promote a focused plan to clean the lakes.
The State of the Yahara Lakes Report Card is found on pages 8 and 9 of this report. The report card provides information on the Yahara lakes from a variety of different sources. The different measures show the state of the lakes in terms of their physical and ecological characteristics. Background information about the metrics included in this report card can be found in the informational paragraphs in this section of the report. This is the beginning of an annual effort by the Clean Lakes Alliance to summarize measures of the quality of the lakes and the challenges they face. It will also give us a baseline to gauge our progress toward cleaning the lakes. Lake Water Quality: The amount of nutrients entering the lakes can have an impact on the lake’s ecology and water quality. High levels of phosphorus in the lakes fuel algae blooms and result in decreased water quality and more beach closures. Phosphorus is known to promote the growth of noxious blue-green algae blooms that can sometimes produce toxins of human health concern. The blooms cause public health officials to close beaches. Blue-green algae also causes soupy green waters that limit enjoyment of the lakes. The report card shows the concentration of phosphorus in the water in each lake. Also included in the report is the target phosphorus level. Phosphorus levels are variable on a yearly basis depending on the amount of rainfall/runoff and summer temperatures.
The report card illustrates that the target median phoshorus level for Lake Mendota and Lake Monona is 0.024 (mg/L) which is the boundary between moderately fertile (mesotrophic) and fertile (eutrophic) conditions. In 2011 median phosphorus levels were 0.020 which is slightly lower than the target, which may be linked to high temperatures and low rainfall. Higher summer temperatures produce a stronger thermocline, or temperature gradient within the deeper lakes (Mendota & Monona) allowing less internal mixing. Reduced internal mixing within the lakes prevents phosphorus contained in the bottom waters of the lakes from mixing into the surface waters and promoting algae growth. Shallow lakes like Waubesa and Kegonsa frequently mix and therefore are less affected by summer temperature changes. Total phosphorus will respond to seasonal changes and fluctuations of inputs from the watershed but it is important to assess long-term trends as well as yearly data. The visibility depth is a measure of water clarity. It is measured by lowering a Secchi disk into the water and recording the depth at which the disk remains visible. Ranges for Secchi depth are: poor clarity (less than 3 ft), fair clarity (3 - 6 ft), good clarity (6 - 10 ft) and excellent clarity (greater than 10 ft). Beaches: The Department of Public Health for Madison and Dane County reports that there are 1500 beach days in Dane County (15 beaches x 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day). The Department of Public Health tests the waters and closes the beaches when they are unsafe.
The information in the report card includes closures reported for the 15 beaches monitored by the Public Health Department, the Memorial Union, and Lake Kegonsa State Park. Aquatic Plant Harvesting: Dane County harvests Eurasian water-milfoil and other aquatic plants to help provide for reasonable use of the lakes for boating, fishing, and swimming, while preserving the health and balance of the lake ecosystem. The priority harvesting areas are shown at http://www. countyofdane.com/lwrd/parks/harvesting_maps. The amount of plants harvested can vary due to budget constraints, equipment used, and plant growth. During times of high water, the Yahara River receives priority harvesting to remove plant impediments to water flow. As the lakes are cleaned and water clarity improves, more aquatic plants will grow and proper aquatic plant harvesting will become increasingly important.
“With more than four miles of frontage on Lake Monona, the citizens of Monona are keenly aware of the importance of the lakes and want to play an active role in improving lake quality.” Mayor Bob Miller
State of the Yahara Lakes 2011
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2011 Yahara Lakes Report Card
Mendota Monona Wingra Waubesa Kegonsa Lake Water Quality (July -‐ August) Phosphorus Target median total phosphorus (mg/L) ≤0.024 ≤0.024 − − − 1 0.032 0.034 0.056 0.064 0.077 Total phosphorus, long-‐term median Median total phosphorus (mg/L) 2010 0.034 0.032 0.035 0.058 0.082 Median total phosphorus (mg/L) 2011 0.020 0.028 0.031 0.051 0.065 Water Clarity Target Secchi visibility depth (ft) ≥6.6 ≥6.6 − − − 1 Secchi visibility, long-‐term median 6.2 5.2 2.0 3.3 3.0 Visibility depth (ft) 2010 4.3 3.6 3.0 2.6 2.0 Visibility depth (ft) 2011 9.7 4.8 3.8 2.1 2.3 Lake Water Temperature (July -‐ August) 80 79 78 79 79 Water temperature average 2011 (0-‐16 feet, F) 2 Water temperature maximum 2011 (0-‐16 feet, F) 82 81 82 81 80 Beaches Total beaches (on each lake) 7 7 1 1 1 2010 Beach closures (in days) 11 51 43 2 N/A 3 E. c oli E. c oli E. c oli N/A Reason for closure E. coli/BGA 2011 Beach closures (in days) 39 22 7 4 0 E. coli/BGA E. coli/BGA E. coli BGA N/A Reason for closure Aquatic Plant Harvesting (# loads) Aquatic plant harvesting (2010) 157 271 37 113 23 Aquatic plant harvesting (2011) 328 217 57 31 22 1 Lake Wingra 1996-‐2007 (before carp removal), Mendota & Monona Secchi 1976-‐2010, Waubesa & Kegonsa 1980-‐2010. 2 Water temperature for Wingra 0-‐10 feet 3 blue-‐green algae 4 harvesting varies due to weather, budget, equipment and plant impediments to water flow in the Yahara River. Sources: Phosphorus and Secchi data from Lathrop & Carpenter (2011). 2011 temperature data provided by R. Lathrop Beach closures from Kirsti Sorsa, Public Health Madison & Dane County; Sarah Bolser, Lake Kegonsa State Park Aquatic plant harvesting data from Susan Jones, Dane County Lakes and Watersheds
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Lake Levels (feet above sea level) Historic maximum lake levels Date of historic maximum level Lake level maximum 2011 Date of 2011 maximum Lake level summer operational maximum Lake level summer operational minimum Lake level minimum winter 2011-‐2012 Date of winter 2011-‐2012 minimum Lake level winter operational minimum Ice Conditions
2011 Yahara Lakes Report Card
Mendota
Monona
Wingra
Waubesa
Kegonsa
852.74 6-‐Jun-‐00 850.18 24-‐Jun-‐11 850.10 849.60 848.42 10&27-‐Feb-‐ 848.20
847.86 16-‐Jun-‐08 845.38 1-‐Jun-‐11 845.20 844.70 844.12 27-‐Feb-‐12 842.20
N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
847.22 17-‐Jun-‐08 845.10 24-‐Jun-‐11 845.00 844.50 843.96 27-‐Feb-‐12 842.00
845.72 16-‐Jun-‐08 843.59 11&12-‐Jun-‐11 843.50 843.00 842.29 21-‐Feb-‐12 N/A
110 57 14-‐Jan-‐12 11-‐Mar-‐12
116 69 2-‐Jan-‐12 12-‐Mar-‐12
119 86 11-‐Dec-‐11 8-‐Mar-‐12
118 67 3-‐Jan-‐12 10-‐Mar-‐12
NA 68 2-‐Jan-‐12 10-‐Mar-‐12
Winter 2010-‐2011 ice duration (days) Winter 2011-‐2012 ice duration Ice on Ice off Sources:
Lake levels from http://www.countyofdane.com/lwrd/landconservation/lakelevelsearchpg.aspx; historic highs from www.yaharalakes.org/lakes.php Lake level operational rules from Dane County Lake Level Management Guide for the Yahara Chain of Lakes Ice on/off for Mendota, Monona and Wingra from http://lter.limnology.wisc.edu Ice on/off for Waubesa from Pam and Eric Christenson; Ice on/off for Kegonsa from Friends of Lake Kegonsa
Lake Levels: The lake levels in the Yahara lake system are controlled by lock and dam structures at Tenney Park, Babcock County Park, and LaFollette County Park. The water levels are managed by Dane County within parameters (maximum and minimum targets) set by the Department of Natural Resources. The overall goal is to manage the lake levels according to the public interest. Many of those interests are in conflict so it is a balancing act. The public interest includes fish and wildlife habitat, flood control, and navigation. The lakes reached historic highs in 2000 and 2008.
Ice Conditions: The last decade has seen the shortest duration of ice cover on the lakes since record keeping began. The lakes are freezing later and breaking up earlier. Since there is no official record for ice on/off for all the lakes, information has been drawn from a variety of sources including the Wisconsin State Climatology Office, the Center for Limnology website, the Friends of Lake Kegonsa, and Madison Gas and Electric.
State of the Yahara Lakes 2011
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“We are not talking about some dark depressing slog. If we can get the phosphorus under control it is going to get better. And it’s going to get better fast.” Stephen Carpenter, Director of the Center for Limnology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
Since pre-settlement times, the land surrounding the lakes has changed dramatically. In recent decades farming has intensified and urban areas have grown. Significant portions of the wetlands that helped keep the lakes clean and contain floodwaters have been drained or filled. As a result, storms that bring significant rain cannot be contained in Lake Mendota as easily and can lead to shoreline damage and flooding in downstream lakes. The changes have also led to an increase in phosphorus in the lakes and high levels of phosphorus in the lakes fuel algae blooms and result in decreased water quality as well as beach closures, and illness. Yet, according to Stephen Carpenter, Director of the Center for Limnology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, there is good news for our lakes. In some ways they are better now than they were in the 1950s. For example, Eurasian water-milfoil, an invasive plant that can choke waterways, is still present but not as bad as it was. We also now know that the lakes respond quickly to reductions in phosphorus. Scientists have studied the lakes during times of drought and have found that, because there is less stormwater runoff, there is less phosphorus in the lakes. During these periods, the lakes show a marked improvement in clarity. This is good news. According to Professor Carpenter, “We are not talking about some dark depressing slog. If we can get the phosphorus under control it is going to get better. And it’s going to get better fast.”
Phosphorus
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According to lake scientists, the key to cleaning the lakes is to reduce the amount of phosphorus entering the lakes. Richard Lathrop and Stephen Carpenter of the University of Wisconsin Center for Limnology studied where the phosphorus in the Yahara lakes is coming from. Because of their study
we now understand that Lake Mendota is key to reducing phosphorus in all the lakes. The phosphorus that flows into Lake Mendota is passed through the lake outlets from lake to lake. Approximately 60% of the phosphorus in Lake Monona comes through the outlet from Lake Mendota. Lake Waubesa receives 94% of its phosphorus from the outlet of Lake Monona. Lake Kegonsa receives 78% of its phosphorus from the outlet of Lake Waubesa. In their study, Lathrop and Carpenter recommend a 50% reduction of the average annual load of phosphorus to Lake Mendota. A reduction in phosphorus coming from Lake Mendota will benefit all the lakes in the chain. Another recommendation in their report is to expand citizen monitoring in the Yahara watershed to include the near shore conditions of the lakes. Understanding near shore algae blooms will help scientists and lake managers develop strategies to reduce their impact on near shore recreation (Lathrop & Carpenter, 2011)
Heavier Rainfalls One challenge in meeting a 50% phosphorus reduction goal for Lake Mendota is the trend towards heavier rainfalls in recent years. According to climate scientists, Wisconsin is getting wetter, especially in the south and western part of the state, and warmer. Since the 1940s, the last decade has seen significantly more heavy rain days than any of the previous decades. This has meant more floods in the downstream lakes, more shoreline erosion, and more runoff into the lakes. The Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts predicts there will be more rain in the winter months and heavier rain storms in the spring and summer months in the southern part of Wisconsin.
Rainfall Data Rainfall Rainfall days over 1 inch Total rainfall (inches) Greatest 24 hour total
2011 6 30.54 1.52
Normal (1981 to 2010) 7.4 34.48 21 and 22-Jun
Source: NOAA website at http://www.crh.noaa.gov/images/mkx/climate/2011/msnyr2011.pdf
More and heavier rainfalls are bad news for the lakes because of the strong link between stormwater runoff and the water quality of the lakes. The trend towards more rain in winter months is especially troubling because in the winter the ground is frozen so the water is less likely to soak into the ground. This means phosphorus in the soil and manure are more likely to be carried by the runoff into nearby lakes. Extreme rainfall events could offset any phosphorus load reductions achieved thorough stormwater management practices in rural and urban areas.
Rain events >3 inches per day Madison, Wisconsin, 1950-2009
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Increase in large runoff events has likely offset P load reductions from best management practices installed in watershed
8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 1950s
1960s
1970s
1980s
1990s
Because of these climate changes, soil conservation practices in rural areas will be very important to limit the amount of soil and pollution that run into our lakes. In urban areas, stormwater systems that are challenged by the larger storms may need upgrades and improvements to wastewater treatment strategies.
Changing Agriculture Another challenge in meeting the 50% phosphorus reduction goal is the trend towards family farms consolidating their herds to become more economically efficient. When this happens, the number of dairy cows tends to increase as does the volume of manure in a more centralized location. These changes in farm operation present new phosphorus management challenges. Patrick J. Sutter, Dane County Conservationist in the Department of Land and Water Resources, and his staff have been working with farmers in the watershed to keep phosphorus out of the lakes. The county is focusing on the places with the greatest potential to stop phosphorus runoff and is working with farmers to put practices in place at those locations. Management practices such as terraces, diversions, and small dams are some of the tools they promote. The Yahara Pride Farm Conservation Board is another group that is working to reduce phosphorus runoff. The board is made up of farmers in the watershed who are reaching out to other farmers. They are working to develop voluntary, non-regulatory, incentive-based, certified best-management practices that will help farmers have a positive impact on land and water resources within the Yahara Watershed. They are also creating a plan to help their peers who need help to complete a conservation project.
10 Number per decade
Challenges
2000s
Source: R.C. Lathrop; rainfall statistics from S.J. Vavrus, UW-Madison Center for Climatic Research
The Yahara CLEAN report includes a map that shows land use, manure application, and high phosphorus load areas in the Yahara chain of lakes watershed. It clearly shows there is a correlation between animal operations and high phosphorus load in the Lake Mendota watershed. There are also significant phosphorus loadings to Lake Waubesa and Lake Kegonsa. As an example of the targeted approach taken by Dane County, the highest phosphorus loading area northwest of Lake Mendota now has the first of two community manure handling facilities, which are designed to export phosphorus from the watershed. According to Patrick Sutter, because of the decades of work between farmers and conservation agencies, many of the farmers in the Lake Mendota watershed are some of the best conservationists around. Continuing work with farmers in the Lake Mendota watershed will be very important to reach the goal of a 50% reduction of phosphorus in the lake.
“Our city of Madison is committed to a future with clean and clear lakes - we know what we need to do to get there.” Mayor Paul R. Soglinetter Stephen Carpenter, Director of the Center for
Invasive Species “We also know that the benefits of reducing inputs into Lake Mendota will cascade throughout the full chain of lakes downstream. Thus, improving Lake Mendota’s source water quality is one of the linchpins in cleaning up the whole system” Yahara CLEAN Report
Invasive species are plants and animals that arrive in a new area and are able to thrive and explode in population. They are invasive because they crowd out native species of plants and animals. In the Yahara lakes there are a few invasive species that are worth noting. A recently discovered invasive animal is the spiny water flea. This tiny creature is unappetizing for our native fish. Worse, the spiny water flea eats the food that our native fish enjoy. This invader has the potential to change the ecology of the lakes in a way that can lead to more blue-green algae blooms.
Other invasive plants and animals could gain a foothold in the lakes if they are transported here from other lakes. Eurasian water-milfoil is an invasive plant that lake managers have been dealing with for decades. The plant was introduced here from other lakes and it can choke waterways and crowd out native plants. Dane County harvests Eurasian water-milfoil and other aquatic plants to help provide for reasonable use of the lakes for boating, fishing, and swimming, while preserving the health and balance of the lake ecosystem.
Beach closures Most beach closures happen when heavy rains and flooding cause runoff from the surrounding land. According to the Department of Public Health for Madison and Dane County, “Stormwater runoff from heavy rain is normally contaminated with bacteria and excess nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen that may lead to beach closures due to high E. coli concentrations and/or harmful algal blooms.” The Department of Public Health notes that algae blooms can happen when phosphorus levels in the lake reach 30 parts per billion (ppb) and are common at 50 ppb. Those levels are common in our lakes. In 2008 when we experienced heavy rainfall in the region, Dane County beaches were closed due to
Spiny Water Flea Source:U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
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Another potential threat is the zebra mussel. Once these tiny mussels have a foothold in a lake, they quickly spread and take over the shoreline. Their shells are sharp, and their feeding habits could cause water clarity to increase while promoting scum-forming blue-green algae blooms that pile Zebra mussel. Source: U.S. Geological up on downwind Survey shorelines. Zebra mussels have established reproducing colonies in other lakes in Wisconsin but not yet in the Yahara chain of lakes.
Fishery incidents related to the flooding, like the accidental release of raw sewage into the lakes, and the sharp increase in contaminants from the stormwater runoff. In 2009 and 2010, the number of beach closures diminished. In 2009 most of the closures were due to algae blooms that persisted from 2008. In 2010, bacteria, mainly from waterfowl droppings, were the biggest reason for closure. In 2011, there were a total of 72 days of beach closures out of 1500 beach days in Dane County (15 beaches x 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day). Of these closures, 29 were caused by bacteria, 37 by blue-green algae, and 6 due to multiple causes (bacteria and blue-green algae).
Many local residents fish in the Yahara Lakes and it is important to note that there are both statewide and local fish consumption guidelines. There are consumption advisories for carp for some of the Yahara lakes and statewide guides related to mercury. Check out the safe eating guidelines for most Wisconsin inland lakes at http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/ fishing/eatyourcatch.html. The Department of Natural Resources surveys the fish in the Yahara lakes on a rotating basis. In the 2009-2010 fishery survey, Lake Mendota received a “B” from the Department of Natural Resources. The survey showed that Lake Mendota has a broad based fishery, including northern pike, walleye, largemouth bass, catfish, and bluegill. Compared to statewide statistics, Lake Mendota’s walleye, largemouth bass, and bluegill are above average in size.
Eurasian Water Milfoil. Source: Great Lakes Information Network.
Dane County works closely with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to develop harvesting priorities that are consistent with the county’s Aquatic Plant Management Plans and Department of Natural Resources issued permits. Some priorities include keeping the Yahara River and the lakes navigable and keeping recreational beaches open. The Dane County Aquatic Invasives Prevention and Control Plan, in place since 2009, is available at http://danedocs.countyofdane.com/webdocs/pdf/ lwrd/lakes/AIS_Plan_Final.pdf. The plan is being actively implemented by county staff and partners.
State of the Yahara Lakes 2011
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Community Action on the Yahara Lakes
In spite of the challenges, there is great potential that the next decade could see dramatic improvements to the lakes. The science of lake management has given us many tools to deal with polluted runoff. We now know where the high concentrations of phosphorus are. “This tells us where to target the reduction efforts for biggest impacts. We also know that the benefits of reducing inputs into Lake Mendota will cascade throughout the full chain of lakes downstream. Thus, improving Lake Mendota‘s source-water quality is one of the linchpins in cleaning up the whole system.” (Yahara CLEAN Report, 2010)
“...because of the decades of work between farmers and conservation agencies, many of the farmers in the Lake Mendota watershed are some of the best conservationists around. “
Patrick Sutter, Dane Conservationist, Department of Land and Water Resources
State and local agencies are focused on making a difference in the lakes. Public-private partnerships have formed to bring attention to the actions that are needed and to raise funds to make them happen. There is a broad coalition of people interested in making a change in the lakes.
Because of work done through the state, the county, and other public and private groups, and in spite of the trend towards more cows per acre of farmland and a decade of heavy rainfall, we are holding steady on phosphorus loading into the lakes. While that trend is encouraging, the goal of the Yahara CLEAN partnership is to further reduce the phosphorus load by 50%. If we meet that goal and take steps to reduce sediment and bacteria in the lakes, in 10 years, benefits will include: • Greater water clarity with less dense and frequent blue-green algae blooms. • Reduced beach closures with illness caused by contact with algal toxins becoming very rare. • The lake users will be able to access and enjoy the lakes year-round.
As part of the annual Yahara Lakes Report Card, we will highlight ways the community can get involved in cleaning the lakes. This year, we are highlighting work done by the Friends of Lake Wingra. We include information at the end of the section to help you get involved as an individual or in community groups in your area of the watershed.
Friends of Lake Wingra The Friends of Lake Wingra (FOLW) work to promote the health of Lake Wingra through active community involvement. The group won the 2011 Lake Stewardship Award at the Wisconsin Lakes Convention in Green Bay. The award was presented in recognition of their work to promote public awareness and understanding of lake water quality issues, and for the noticeable improvements in the condition of Lake Wingra and its shoreline habitats. In 2009, the group published Lake Wingra, A Vision for the Future. This document was three years in the making and it outlines goals for the lake and practical steps to make those goals happen. The Friends also publish a semi-annual newsletter that keeps the community engaged through education and updates on progress towards a healthy and clean Lake Wingra. Excerpts from “Wingra Watershed Management Plan Progress Update” by are highlighted here. The original article published in the FOLW 2011 newsletter, is a summary of the progress they have made. You can download the 2009 Lake Wingra, A Vision for the Future or the article from the library tab on their website. Wingra Watershed Management Plan Progress Update by Genesis Steinhorst and Steve Arnold When the Friends of Lake Wingra completed the document, Lake Wingra: A Vision for the Future, it was the successful first step toward the development of concrete strategies and policies for achieving our practical vision of a healthy Lake Wingra.
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Progress toward that practical vision occurred when the Friends of Lake Wingra asked the city of Madison for Storm Water Utility funds to be directed toward the creation of a detailed watershed plan. City Engineering was receptive and included funds in the 2011 budget to initiate the proposal. The city plans to include comparable funds in the 2012-2013 budget. The FOLW has agreed to contribute $8,000 in addition to the $125,000 being directed to the project by the city this year. A project manager will be hired and will bring together water quality specialists, engage stakeholders, garner public input, and compile information into a final, integrated plan. The plan will include a detailed implementation time line, identification of roles and responsibilities of stakeholders, and relevant costs of all recommended practices and policies. An executive committee comprised of city staff, FOLW members, and others will help oversee the consultant and the general direction of the planning process. Task groups will deal with issues related to detailed watershed analysis (e.g., identifying significant sources of sediment and nutrients), in-lake analysis (e.g., evaluating the importance of sediment re-suspension due to carp and/or wind and the role aquatic vegetation plays in re-suspension), invasive species management strategies, road salt impacts, sources of bacteria, and significant public outreach with extensive stakeholder engagement. Learn more at www.lakewingra.org
Photo by Tyler Leeper, Wingra Boats
Looking to the Future
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How to get involved The Yahara Lakes watershed community can make a difference in the lakes. Government agencies have been working on solutions to the algae blooms and nuisance plant problems in our lakes for decades. Their work is paying off. We now have many tools to help make the lakes cleaner. In the next few decades, we have the potential to see a huge impact on the lakes. With the cooperative efforts of the City of Madison, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, Dane County, the University of Wisconsin, and non-profits like the Clean Lakes Alliance, we are focusing on practical solutions to get the job done. You can get involved in many ways. The first step is to get informed about what is being done to protect the lakes in your area. Join in efforts to clean the lakes during the annual “Take a Stake in the Lakes” programs sponsored by Dane County. Attend the Clean Lakes Festival held in August each year and learn more through family friendly educational activities. Join the groups that are making a difference. Cleaning the lakes is a community effort and we all need to do our part. l City dwellers can build a rain garden, plant the shoreline with native plants, and use the minimum amount of salt on sidewalks and driveways. l Boaters can drain all water from your boat and equipment, dispose of bait properly, and not move live fish between waters. l The community can get involved with efforts to protect beaches from contamination. l Farmers can use conservation practices that keep phosphorus from our lakes.
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Acknowledgements
On-line Resources Facebook links
I want to extend a sincere thank you to the following individuals for taking the time to share their expertise and advise me on background and direction for this report. Stephen Carpenter, Director of the Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin, Madison Lloyd Eagan, Director of Water Programs, Water District South, Department of Natural Resources Sue Jones, Lakes and Watershed Program Coordinator, Dane County Richard Lathrop, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources; University of Wisconsin, Madison Patrick Sutter, County Conservationist, Dane County Kurt Welke, DNR Fish Manager, South Central Region The heart of this report is from an unpublished paper written by Richard Lathrop and Stephen Carpenter, Phosphorus Loading and Lake Response Analyses for the Yahara Lakes. To research the report I read many government documents and most of them included information gathered and analyzed by Richard Lathrop. In his retirement he is continuing to lend his expertise to the on-going work of cleaning up the Yahara Lakes. Because of his dedication, and the dedication and professionalism of many individuals at the University of Wisconsin and in the federal, state, county, and local governments, we can all have hope that the next decade will see us enjoying cleaner and more accessible lakes.
https://www.facebook.com/CleanLakesAlliance http://www.facebook.com/dane.county.waters
Get informed www.cleanlakesalliance.com
find ways to get involved and learn more
www.myfairlakes.com
find ways to get involved on your own property
danewaters.com/watershed_locator/default.asp
find where you are in the watershed and how to get involved with watershed groups
yaharawatershed.org
find information on the Yahara CLEAN project
danewaters.com/business/danestewards.aspx
listserv forum for announcements, information, and coordination
www.madisonenvironmental.com/projects
tools and encouragement to adopt more economical and environmentally-friendly lifestyle practices
danewaters.com/resource/stateofthewaters.aspx
find the 2008 State of the Lakes Report by the Dane County Office of Lakes and Watersheds
References Betz, C.R., Lowndes, M.A., Porter, S. 1997. Nonpoint Source Control Plan for the Lake Mendota Priority Watershed Project. [DNR Publication WT-481-97] Dane County Land & Water Resources Department. (2010). Dane County Lake Level Management Guide for the Yahara Chain of Lakes. Retrieved February 20, 2012 from http://danedocs.countyofdane.com/webdocs/pdf/lwrd/landconservation/Lake_Level_Management_Guide_10-13-10_with_Appendices.pdf Dane County Parks and Open Space Plan 2006-2011. Retrieved on February 15, 2012 from http://countyofdane.com/lwrd/parks/pdf/DaneCo_POSP2006-2011. pdf Dane County Parks and Open Space Plan 2012-2017. (2012). Retrieved on February 20, 2012 from http:// danedocs.countyofdane.com/webdocs/pdf/lwrd/ parks/POSP/2012-2017_POSP_DRAFT_Report.pdf Dane County Office of Lakes and Watersheds. 2008. (Jones, S. ed.) State of the Waters. Retrieved February 28, 2012 from http://danedocs.countyofdane.com/ webdocs/pdf/lwrd/lakes/State_of_Waters.pdf Department of Natural Resources. Choose Wisely 2011. A health guide for eating fish in Wisconsin. [DNR pamphlet PUB-FH-824-2011] Department of Natural Resources. Lake Mendota Fisheries Survey 2009-2010. [Fisheries East Team-Fitchburg handout] Great Lakes Information Network. [Picture of Eurasian milfoil]. Retrieved on March 15, 2012 from http:// www.great-lakes.net/envt/flora-fauna/invasive/invasive.html Jones, Josheff, Presser, Steinhorst. (2010). A CLEAN Future for the Yahara Lakes: Solutions for Tomorrow, Starting Today. Retrieved on February 20, 2012 from http://yaharawatershed.org/articles/CLEAN_Report_090910.pdf Lathrop, R.C. & Carpenter, S.R. 2011. Phosphorus Loading and Lake Response Analyses for the Yahara Lakes. Unpublished Report prepared for the Yahara CLEAN project.
Lathrop, R.C.; Nehls, S.B.; Brynildson, C.L. & Plass, K.R. (1992). The fishery of the Yahara Lakes. [Technical Bulletin No. 181, Department of Natural Resources, Madison, Wisconsin] Madison and Dane County Public Health Department. 2012. Madison and Dane County Environmental Health Report Card – 2010. Retrieved on February 27, 2012 from http://www.publichealthmdc.com/publications/documents/2010RptCard.pdf North American Lake Management Society. (Winter 2005). Madison Lakes. LakeLine, 25(4). University of Wisconsin-Madison, Center for Limnology website, http://limnology.wisc.edu/lake_information/ other_yahara_lakes/monona.html University of Wisconsin-Madison, Center for Limnology. North Temperate Lakes Long Term Ecological Research program (http://lter.limnology.wisc.edu), NSF. Data sets: Chemical Limnology of North Temperate Lakes LTER Primary Study Lakes: Nutrients, pH and Carbon, Physical Limnology of Lake Kegonsa and Lake Waubesa, Physical Limnology of Primary Study Lakes, North Temperate Lakes LTER: Ice Duration - Madison Lakes Area. Wisconsin’s Changing Climate: Impacts and Adaptation. 2011. Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts. Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Madison, Wisconsin. Retrieved on February 20, 2012 from http://www.wicci.wisc. edu/publications.php
Ice on/off for Waubesa from Pam Christenson, Madison Gas & Electric Ice on/off for Kegonsa from Friends of Lake Kegonsa Phosphorus and secchi data for all lakes from Lathrop & Carpenter Beach closures from Kirsti Sorsa, Department of Public Health for Madison and Dane County; Sarah Bolser, Lake Kegonsa State Park Fisheries data from Kurt Welke, Department of Natural Resources.
Report Card Sources Lake levels from http://www.countyofdane.com/lwrd/ landconservation/lakelevelsearchpg.aspx Historic high lake levels from www.yaharalakes.org/lakes. php Lake level targets from Dane County Lake Level Management Guide for the Yahara Chain of Lakes Water temperature; ice on/off for Mendota, Monona and Wingra and Wingra phosphorus from http://lter. limnology.wisc.edu
(From the author, Dea Larsen Converse)
State of the Yahara Lakes 2011
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