Wisconsin DNR Ken Johnson

Wisconsin DNR Ken Johnson Water Level Regulations and the Yahara River Lakes

Chapter 31 and Section 31.02 Powers and duties of department.

– May regulate and control the level and flow in all navigable waters – In the interest of public rights in navigable waters or to promote safety and protect life, hearth and property…. – May investigate and determine all reasonable methods of construction, operation, maintenance and equipment….

Control documents

– Order: findings, conclusion of law, and order

Who is the Public in Public Rights? • Private Riparians • Local Municipalities • Citizens of the state of Wisconsin • Citizens of the United States • Future Citizens

What Are Public Rights • Navigation and it’s incidents • Water Quality • Habitat • Recreation • Natural Scenic Beauty

History of Regulations • Mendota – First Dam Laws of 1840 – Levels 1931 – Reconstructed Dam in 1959 – Levels 1979

Lake Mendota Order • Summer Maximum 850.1 MSL • Summer Minimum 849.6 MSL • Summer Range 0.5 Feet • Winter Minimum 848.2 MSL • Minimum Flow 5 CFS • Difference between Monona and Mendota 4.9 feet (normal and low flow)

Waubesa and Monona Order – Levels established 1917 – Dam constructed 1937 – Re-established WL 1979

Lake Monona Order • Summer Maximum 845.2 MSL • Summer Minimum 844.7MSL • Summer Range 0.5 Feet • Winter Minimum 842.1 MSL • Minimum Flow 10 CFS

Lake Waubesa Order • Summer Maximum 845.0 MSL • Summer Minimum 844.5MSL • Summer Range 0.5 Feet • Winter Minimum 841.9 MSL • Minimum Flow 10 CFS

Kegonsa – Levels established 1917 – Dam constructed 1937 – Re-established WL 1979

Lake Kegonsa Order • Summer Maximum 843.5 MSL • Summer Minimum 843.0 MSL • Summer Range 0.5 Feet • Winter Minimum 842.25 MSL • Minimum Flow CFS

Stoughton Mill Pond Order • Summer Maximum 842.0 MSL • Summer Minimum 841.0 MSL • Summer Range 1.0 Feet • Winter Maximum - none • Winter Minimum - none • Minimum Flow 15 CFS

Reaction to the flood of 2000 Establishment of the Yahara Lakes Advisory Group (YLAG). The group was charged with exploring eight questions: 1. Are these orders serving the lakes well 2. Can Fish spawning be enhanced by a different approach 3. Are we protecting flood prone areas 4. Are we encouraging recharge of GW 5. Are we doing a good job managing recreational opportunities 6. Can we improve water quality of the Lakes 7. Are there physical changes to the system that need to be pursued

8. Are we still serving the public interest.

YLAG continued • 40 recommendations were made concerning

– Lake Management and Operations – Monitoring/Modeling – Land Use – Education

• Dane County and DNR still track the

development of these recommendations

Long standing orders • “There is nothing wrong with the current

water level orders. The problem is we can’t stay within the ordered water levels” • YLAG Board member

Lake Mendota Statistics

Lake Monona Statistics

Lake Kegonsa Statistics

Lake Waubesa Statistics

Reaction to the Floods of 2007 and 2008 • 2009 Secretary Matt Frank along with

County Executive Kathleen Falk and Mayor Dave Cieslewicz released their short term action plan – Let’s do what we can together to pick the low hanging fruit. • Improve the hydraulics • Improve flood flow operations

Improve Flood Operation • Maximize the slope on the river during flood conditions

– Get the maximum amount of water through the system – Minimize the overall risk to the system

• Improve communication of the

municipalities within the system • Fall 2009 Technical Session

Understanding Yahara River Hydraulics

Pinch Points • Highway 113 railroad bridge • Railroad truss bridges – Waubesa – Kegonsa

• Historic Structures • Stoughton Railroad Bridge • Stoughton Utility Pipe Crossing

To Be Proactive • Change the orders • Lower Mendota • Lower Monona

Flood proof the system

KNOW YOUR IMPACT • Habitat

– Fish – Wildlife – Wetland

• Recreational • Ground water – –

Lake levels Flow

• Protection of Property – Flooding – Access

Lake Mendota Water Levels 1993 Excellent Success

853

8.0 northern pike spaw ning period

7.0 852

851

Level (ft)

5.0

850

4.0

3.0 849 2.0 848 1.0

847 1/1

1/29

2/26

3/26

4/23

5/21

6/18

7/16

8/13

9/10

10/8

11/5

12/3

Date Level

Summer Max

Summer Min

Winter Min

Precipitation

0.0 12/31

Precipitation (inches)

6.0

Where do we go from here? • The Department will convene a Yahara system flooding advisory group – Who? – When?