Fiscal Note
No appropriation is required, but staff resources will need to be allocated as appropriate.
Title
To a) authorize the Common Council of the City of Madison to request that the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources review authorized lake levels on Lake Mendota, b) request from Dane County a review of their policy on summer minimum and maximum lake levels and its potential impact on residential flooding and wetland deterioration, and c) direct the City Engineer, the Parks Division, and the City Attorney to work with the National Weather Service, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the Cities of Middleton and Monona, and Dane County to establish pre-determined thresholds representing the onset of flooding for Lakes Mendota, Monona, and Waubesa.
Body
Preamble
One of Madison’s greatest natural treasures are its surrounding lakes enjoyed by residents and visitors alike. In recent years concerns have been raised about the established lake levels and their impact on the quality of water, wetland deterioration and restoration, and potential flooding of residential areas such as Cherokee Park. These concerns have been prompted to a large extent by the floods of 1993, 2000 and now, 2008, all of which exceeded the presently established 100-year flood event for Lake Mendota.
The level of Lakes Mendota, Monona, and Waubesa are established by the Department of Natural Resources Order of January 18, 1979 and have not been formally reviewed since that time. Dane County is responsible for maintaining those levels following the criteria established by the DNR. The current lake level orders require the county to raise Lake Mendota to the summer minimum in March each year. The lake is drawn down in the winter to create flood storage and to reduce ice damage and puts it all back in March to theoretically help northern pike spawning. The DNR does not fine the county if it exceeds the maximum lake levels.
Residents residing in the area of Chero...
Click here for full text