COASTAL ENVIRONMENT

Source:  UW Limnology Department

Lake Mendota

Lake Mendota is the largest lake in Dane County, Wisconsin.  The lake has an area of 9,842 acres and a maximum depth of 25. 3 m.  The fetch from SW to NE extends approximately 10 km.  The temperature varies dramatically with the time of year and experiences ice cover during the winter season.  The shoreline of Lake Mendota is dominated by human development with wetlands, bluffs, and beaches.  There are five main tributaries to the lake which include the Yahara River, Pheasant Branch Creek, Six Mile Creek, Spring Creek, and Token Creek.  Overall, the Lake Mendota watershed consist primarily of agriculture (57.4%) and developed areas (20%).

                                            Lake Mendota Characteristics                            

                                          Source:  UW Limnology Department

            Source:  Lake Mendota Environment

Yahara River

Originating in Columbia County, the Yahara River is a small creek that meanders through wetlands, agricultural fields, and new urban developments before emptying into Lake Mendota.  The Yahara River is the largest tributary of Lake Mendota.  The river brings in large amounts of sediment and phosphorus loads into Lake Mendota.  In fact, the Yahara River dumps approximately 710 tons of sediment per in Lake Mendota per year (WDNR).  The sources of sediment include crop fields that persist along the river, streambank erosion, and small gully erosion.  In recent years, the sediment load has increased due to a rapid transition from agriculture to urban development and the decreasing number of wetlands from development.

Source:  National Heritage Organization

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