Lake Waubesa Conservation Association primed to take action
By Carolyn Betz, Project Manager and Lead Author of the Lake Waubesa Management Plan
Lake Waubesa Conservation Association and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources approved a comprehensive lake management plan in late 2024. The plan presents an up-to-date analysis of historical and current water quality data, the unique wetlands, and phosphorus inputs from rural and urban land uses. The plan presents dozens of recommendations to protect and improve the lake.
LWCA applied for and received a lake management planning grant from the DNR in 2023 to fund the report which was created by the Capital Area Regional Planning Commission using data from the DNR, University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Center for Limnology, Dane County Land and Water Resources Department, Clean Lakes Alliance, and others. The DNR approved the 224-page plan, making the LWCA eligible to apply for future grants to implement recommendations.
About Lake Waubesa
Lake Waubesa is a 2,074-acre, 38-foot-deep, lowland lake located about seven miles south of the state capitol. It is third in the Yahara River chain of lakes and is known for its high-quality wetlands and trophy-worthy fisheries. Lake Waubesa fisheries include musky, largemouth bass, northern pike, and walleye. Three county parks and over 1,000 acres of wetlands provide miles of undeveloped shoreline.
A mix of urban and agricultural land uses surround Lake Waubesa and its tributaries. It does not have the intensive dairy farming that is found in Lake Mendota’s much larger drainage area. However, Lake Waubesa’s placement as third in the chain leaves it highly affected by upstream land uses. About 83% of total phosphorus in Lake Waubesa comes directly from Lake Monona.
Nutrients like phosphorus from agricultural areas and urban pollution such as trash, oils, and heavy metals flow downstream. The harmful nutrients from upstream can degrade Lake Waubesa’s water quality. Excessive nutrients lead to abundant aquatic plant growth, algae blooms and cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) growth. Long-term data indicate that Lake Waubesa has poor water quality and shows temporary improvements during periods of drought.
Taking inventory of Lake Waubesa and surroundings
188 people completed a community engagement survey in 2023, answering dozens of lake-related questions. Most felt the overall health of the lake was only poor to fair. However, the majority of those surveyed value the lake for its beauty and recreational opportunities.
A complete inventory of every parcel was also conducted along the ten miles of shoreline. Information gathered included the length of total riprap and sea walls, tree canopy, areas in manicured lawns, bare soil that allow pollutants to wash into the lake, and impervious surfaces like hard patios, boat house roofs, and sheds. The report provides recommendations on how to protect the shoreline and increase native vegetation.
Computer modeling of rural and urban land uses conducted for the plan led to the creation of maps showing areas of highest erosion potential. The data and maps will be shared with property owners, local units of government, and farmer-led groups who are interested in installing best management practices to help reduce polluted runoff to the lakes and streams.
The 2024 aquatic plant survey measured the abundance and presence of different plant species. The lake supports a diverse, mostly native aquatic plant community that positively affects water quality, stabilizes the shoreline, and provides habitat for fish and wildlife. LWCA works directly with Dane County, which harvests aquatic plants when they grow in excess, particularly if they contribute to flooding or impede recreation and navigation. Lake Waubesa residents help by placing plants on their piers to be picked up by the County.
Lake Waubesa’s Management Plan
The plan emphasizes the importance of improving water quality by managing all types of polluted runoff and protecting the wetlands and natural springs, which provide clear, cold water to the lake. Volunteers will continue to monitor the lake at its deepest spot. The volunteers also collect nearshore water clarity, plant, and algae data as part of Clean Lakes Alliance’s LakeForecast Program.
LWCA is currently evaluating and prioritizing about 75 recommendations presented in the plan. LWCA continues to endorse Clean Lakes Alliance’s “Top 10 Way to Help the Lakes at Home,” recommendations that include creating rain gardens, reducing impervious surfaces where possible, raking for leaf-free streets, and reducing winter salt use to improve water quality.
“We’re excited to continue building on existing momentum we’ve created over the past two years,” said Tamara Knickmeier, president of the LWCA.
The plan is available at https://www.waubesa.org/lmp
Carolyn Betz served as the project manager and lead author of this plan. Prior to this, she worked on land-water interactions for over 40 years at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, including serving as the Watershed Planner for the Lake Mendota Priority Watershed Project. Please reach out to carolynbetz1213@gmail.com for additional information.
