What does Ordinary High Water Mark mean?
What is the size of the
watershed draining into Lake Koshkonong?
How does flooding affect the wetlands around the
lake?
Who "owns" the
beach on the shoreline of privately owned lakefront
property? Is it trespassing to walk along the beach
across other's property? Can a boater who owns
no land moor his boat anywhere he wants on the
lake, including right in front of my lot?
Does shoreline armoring protect against erosion?
If the new water level
target is at 776.8, wouldn't the wetlands between
their new rip rap and the old shoreline be filled
with water, and halt the re-vegetation?
I live on Blackhawk Island . At what level are we in
danger of flooding?
Are those annoying bugs on our shore every
weekend called lake flies or sand flies? Is there anything we could
do to get rid of them, since the kids hate when they
land all over them? They don't seem to bite, they
are just a nuisance.
Did I see photos where the lake is inundating floodplain forests?
Is the only thing the wetlands owners really care about is their duck hunting clubs?
The DNR appears to have a bias in favor of the duck hunters. Is that true?
What is the Rock Koshkonong Lake District and why is there a charge on my property tax bill?
Who opposes the Lake District ’s request for nominally higher, stable water levels?
What is the Lake Koshkonong Wetland Association?
When is the Contested Case Hearing
to oppose the DNR’s water level orders?
What is a Lake District and what are their powers?
What does Ordinary High Water Mark mean?
The Ordinary High Water Mark (OHWM) can be described as “the point on the bank or shore up to which the presence and action of water is so continuous as to leave a distinct mark either by erosion, destruction of terrestrial vegetation, or other easily recognized characteristic.” The OHWM is the boundary between riparian owned uplands and the publicly owned beds of natural lakes.
What is the size of the watershed draining into Lake Koshkonong ?
The watershed that drains into the Rock River and ultimately Lake Koshkonong is about 1,900 square miles and is called the Upper Rock River Watershed. The Upper Rock River Watershed downstream boundary is at Fort Atkinson . A smaller subwatershed that includes the lands that drain to the Rock River between Fort Atkinson and the Indianford Dam contain another 400 square miles for a total of approximately 2,300 square miles. [ TOP ]
How does flooding affect the wetlands around the lake?
Flooding effects that occur in the Rock River and in Lake Koshkonong can vary depending on amplitude and duration. The term “flood” has various technical definitions but in a normal sense means when the water level overtops the normal bank or shore elevation. This elevation varies from the upstream to downstream ends of the lake but for practical purposes is about a water elevation of 779 to 780 mean sea level. When the water levels reach this stage, uplands and wetlands around the lake become inundated. If the inundation occurs for a long enough duration during the growing season it can affect the ability of vegetation to either germinate if it occurs in early spring or maintain viability if it occurs in summer, generally speaking.
The wetlands surrounding Lake Koshkonong have evolved in what can be described as a normal flooding event circumstance. The Rock River water levels reach or surpass the flood elevations on an almost annual basis, therefore the plant communities in the riparian wetlands are of a composition that includes plants that can withstand regular inundation and also live in moist-soil conditions after the flood water recede. Unfortunately, these plant communities around Lake Koshkonong contain relatively monotypic stands of vigorous and sometimes invasive species such as cattail, common reed and river bulrush. Select areas of these riparian wetlands contain a more diverse plant community but these are at a higher elevation than the shoreline wetlands so they are less affected by flood events. [ TOP ]
Does shoreline armoring protect against erosion?
Armoring of shorelines along Lake Koshkonong provide wave energy dissipation that greatly reduces the erosive nature of moving water. The majority of shorelines along the lake are currently armored with riprap or other rigid structures. This armoring provides a protective barrier for shoreline erosion and also provides some habitat for wildlife. The on-going Lake Study being conducted by RKLD and WDNR indicates that armoring of wetland shorelines has allowed these wetlands to begin the reclamation or outward expansion of these important wetland communities that will benefit the wildlife that call Lake Koshkonong home. [ TOP ]
Who "owns" the beach on the shoreline of privately owned lakefront property? Is it trespassing to walk along the beach across other's property? Can a boater who owns no land moor his boat anywhere he wants on the lake, including right in front of my lot?
Under Wisconsin Law, the public owns up to the ordinary high water mark ("OHWM"), but the riparian owner has the exclusive access to the area between the OHWM and the water's edge.
A member of the public is not trespassing if he has his feet wet. But is trespassing if on dry land. The boater cannot moor his boat (other than temporarily with an anchor) because only a riparian owner can place a structure (including a pier, boat lift, mooring buoy, etc) on the lake bed. [ TOP ]
I live on Blackhawk Island . At what level are we in danger of flooding?
780.0. Most springtime levels can reach roughly 778.12, which is about 22 ½ inches below flooding in low areas such as Blackhawk
And at 778.12, we are also about 23 inches above the DNR summer target water level. [ TOP ]
Are those annoying bugs on our shore every weekend called lake flies or sand flies? Is there anything we could do to get rid of them, since the kids hate when they land all over them? They don't seem to bite, they are just a nuisance.
They are in the family of Midge Flies, hatch from the lake. Call a local business for outside insect control and you will effectively reduce their numbers.
If the new water level target is at 776.8, wouldn't the wetlands between their new rip rap and the old shoreline be filled with water, and halt the re-vegetation?
Behind the rip rap, sediment has been building up to a depth of 6 to 12 inches. It does that during higher water periods and wave action. Sediment is carried by the waves over the riprap and dropped and trapped by the riprap, which is what causes the build up of soil.
Once that happens, if the sediment is kept dry, what you would see is woody plants growing and not the desired wetland vegetation, which needs water to be a healthy, more robust wetland. [ TOP ]
Did I see photos where the lake is inundating floodplain forests?
That is not lake water inundating the floodplain forest. It is the natural watershed from Koshkonong Creek.
The water behind the rip rap shows how far out from the vegetated shoreline the DNR allowed some of the wetland owners to extend into the normal navigable portion of the lake/bottom; which was dry, frozen muck at the time, because of the DNR-mandated drought. Anyone thinking the DNR is not playing favorites, try placing rip rap that far out in front of your house after the lake levels drop in November due to the DNR’s winter water level order. [ TOP ]
Is the only thing the wetlands owners really care about is their duck hunting clubs?
In some shoreline locations, a water level of 776.8 will promote submergent vegetation, such as sago pondweed. Ducks eat the roots or tubers of Sago. Thus, the 7.2 inches of additional water level the Lake District is requesting (776.8) is beneficial to both boating safety and duck habitat.
In other shoreline locations, 776.8 will promote favored emergent wetland plants. The mistake the DNR and the LKWA are making is placing a value judgment of one species (emergent) over another species (submergent). Both Sago and Bulrush are desirable native wetlands plants. [ TOP ]
The DNR appears to have a bias in favor of the duck hunters. Is that true?
Ideally, the winter drawdown would have been set
for early October but was delayed until November
1 to accommodate duck hunters navigating across the
lake in their skiffs.
- Ken Johnson, Lower Rock River Leader, DNR - South Central Region [ TOP ]
What is the Rock Koshkonong Lake District and why is there a charge on my property tax bill?
The Rock-Koshkonong Lake District (RKLD) is an elected, local unit of government formed under Chapter 33 of the WI State Statutes. A property tax special charge funds lake management activities. Board meetings are held monthly at STH 59 and CTH N and are open to the public. [ TOP ]
Who opposes the Lake District ’s request for nominally higher, stable water levels?
The WI Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the Lake Koshkonong Wetlands Association (LKWA). [ TOP ]
What is the Lake Koshkonong Wetland Association?
The LKWA is a private club, funded by membership dues. Their monthly meetings are held at the DNR offices in Janesville and are closed to the general public. [ TOP ]
The RKLD numbers more voting-eligible constituents
than either Edgerton or Fort Atkinson , the nearest
city governments. [ TOP ]
When
is the Contested Case Hearing to oppose the DNR’s
water level orders?
March 28-30; April 3-5.
The DNR imposes drawdowns to control overabundant aquatic plants. However, Koshkonong has very few aquatic plants, so a drawdown damages the few we have. And exposing the mudflats created by the winter drawdown risks inviting invasive species. Also, any fisherman will tell you the winter drawdown is detrimental to ice fishing. [ TOP ]
Can fishing be improved on Lake Koshkonong?
By eliminating the DNR winter drawdown and nominally raising the summer water levels, turbidity will be reduced and clarity will be improved. Improved water quality will promote submergent aquatic plants that support fish habitat.
The RKLD also supports more aggressive fish stocking from the Bark River Fish Hatchery. Until water levels are resolved though, the current DNR orders do not warrant RKLD investment.[ TOP ]
I heard back in the 1950s man-made islands in Lake Koshkonong were once proposed. Will islands ever become reality?
Once the water level issue is resolved, the RKLD will recruit the wetlands clubs and the Audubon society to lobby the DNR and the US Army Corp. of Engineers for approval of man-made, uninhabited, protected islands. These islands would protect migratory birds from predators and improve fish habitat. Islands would also serve to break wind fetch, reducing natural erosion of lake shorelines, not to mention the aesthetic beauty of isolated islands.[ TOP ]
If the RKLD loses the Contested Case Hearing and the current DNR orders prevail, is that the end to keeping more water in the lake?
State law provides for an appeal process. The hearing judge could rule in favor of the DNR, or could issue a compromise, or could rule in favor of the RKLD. Under each ruling, a party to the hearing could appeal the judge’s decision. [ TOP ]
What is the Lake District and What are their Powers
SEE: WI STATE STATUTE
Chapter 33 [ TOP ]
I am in Jellystone Park in the town of Koshkonong. Part of the campground pays the Lake District assessment and part does not. I do. What do I get for my money? Do I have lake rights and use of the lake that people who don't pay get? If so could you explain my rights?
The Rock County Board established the Lake District boundaries in 1999, after a public hearing. Much like a school district, boundaries are not drawn perfectly - sometimes a boundary is marked by a street, excluding those from attending a school that may indeed be closer to those same residents. This is the situation with Jellystone
Since the boundaries were established in 1999, the campground has expanded, and apparently, there are now camp sites beyond the Lake District boundaries. You may want to petition your campground board to attach the entire campground to the RKLD boundary. Unfortunately, the RKLD does not have the power to annex new territory like a city can annex.
Your "rights" to use the lake are protected by the WI Public Trust Doctrine - which irritates many WI residents that WI cannot tax IL residents and other out-of-staters at a higher rate. I believe the Public Trust Doctrine should never be reversed.
Be proud that you are one of more than 4000+ Lake District residents dedicated to improving the safety, recreation and ecology of WI's 3rd largest inland lake. [ TOP ]