Lake Koshkonong facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake Koshkonong |
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 Lake Koshkonong
Location in Wisconsin
Lake Koshkonong
Location in the United States
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| Location | Jefferson / Rock / Dane counties, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 42°52′27″N 88°57′29″W / 42.87417°N 88.95806°W |
| Lake type | Reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Rock River |
| Primary outflows | Rock River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 10,460 acres (42 km2) |
| Average depth | 6 ft (2 m) |
| Max. depth | 7 ft (2 m) |
| Surface elevation | 774 ft (236 m) |
Lake Koshkonong is a natural lake in southern Wisconsin. It also works like a reservoir, holding extra water. Its size grew a lot when the Indianford Dam was built in 1932. This made it one of the biggest lakes in Wisconsin. The lake is connected to the Rock River. The river flows into and out of the lake.
Lake Koshkonong starts about 5.5 mi (8.9 km) downriver from Fort Atkinson. Most of the lake is in southwestern Jefferson County. Smaller parts of the lake reach into southeastern Dane and northern Rock counties.
After the Indianford Dam was built, the lake became 10,460 acres (42.3 km2) big. It is still very shallow. The average depth is six feet (1.8 meters), and the deepest spot is seven feet (2.1 meters). The dam itself is 13 feet (4.0 meters) high. It is 500 ft (150 m) long at its top. Rock County owns and manages both the dam and the lake.
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Lake Koshkonong's History and Name
The name "Koshkonong" was first used by Doty in 1844. People used to think it meant "the lake that we live on." But now, experts believe it means "where there is heavy fog." Or it could mean "where it is closed in by fog."
Today, many think the name is a mix of different names. White settlers in the early 1800s heard these names from local tribes. These included "Kashkawanung" from the Ojibwe and "Coscahoenah" from the Menomini. Also, "Kuskouonog" came from the Potowatomi. These names sound like they come from Algonquian languages. This is interesting because the village there was Winnebago, who spoke Siouan. One idea is that settlers first heard about the area from Algonquian tribes.
The spelling "Koshkonong" became official in the 1830s and 40s. Fort Koshkonong was an important fort during the Black Hawk War. It was named using this spelling. Before the Rock River was dammed, the area was a cattail marsh. The Rock River flowed through it. Today, the lake borders the Town of Koshkonong to the east. It also borders the Town of Sumner to the north.
Lake Koshkonong's Nature and Animals
Plants in Lake Koshkonong
Lake Koshkonong's plant life has changed a lot. It was once a deep marsh with many plants. These included reeds, wild rice, and grasses. But much of this wetland has disappeared. This is because water levels have risen. Higher dams and a changing landscape caused this. By 2000, the lake had lost over 100 acres of wetland.
Now, the lake has different plants. These include lake sedge (Carex lacustris) and bur-reed (Sparganium). Other water plants are also found there. Groups are trying to add Pondweed and Wild celery. This helps create better homes for fish.
Fish in Lake Koshkonong
About sixty types of fish live in the Rock River (Mississippi River tributary) and Lake Koshkonong. Many of these fish lay their eggs in rivers. They might live in lakes but go to rivers to reproduce. Floods and dry periods can affect fish reproduction. This can make some fish types more common and others less common.
Some fish you can find in the lake are:
Birds Around Lake Koshkonong
Many rare birds live near Lake Koshkonong. They live in the wetlands around the lake. Rising water levels are a problem for these birds. Losing trees and other plants hurts the animals that depend on them.
Some rare birds affected by rising water are the Cerulean warbler and the Acadian flycatcher. Other rare birds in the area include the Black tern, Forster's tern, and American bittern. Also, the Least bittern and Virginia rail are impacted.
Fun Activities at Lake Koshkonong
Summer Fun
Lake Koshkonong is famous for its great fishing. You can fish with a hook and line all year. But there are rules for some fish. These include Muskellunge, Lake Sturgeon, Trout, and Paddlefish. These are rare or protected species.
For example, the Muskellunge season in 2020 was from May 2 to December 31. Fish had to be at least 40 inches long. You could only catch one per day. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources stocks the lake. They add Walleye and Northern pike from the Bark River Hatchery.
There are four boat landings around the lake. There are also two beaches. The lake is shallow, about 6 feet deep on average. The deepest part is 7 feet. But you can still boat, canoe, and kayak here.
The lake hosts many events. These include boat races and Venetian Boat Parades. Thunder on the Lake is a fast boat race. The boats are hydroplane powered. They can go up to 60 MPH. Other races are for fishing boats and smaller boats. The Venetian Boat Parade is put on by a local business group. People decorate their boats with lights. They cruise together, ending at the Lakeview bar.
Winter Fun
Ice fishing used to be very popular. But warmer weather has made it less common. Other winter activities include snowmobiling, fatbike riding, and ice skating.
Lake Koshkonong's Environmental Challenges
Shoreline Erosion
The lake has lost many water plants. Water levels have also risen due to flooding. This has caused a lot of erosion over the last 50 years. The shoreline has been greatly damaged. Projects have been done to fix this and stop more damage.
Riprap armor has been used. This is a short-term fix. Human-made rock walls are placed along the shore. They protect against scour and waves. In 2002 and 2003, a lake group worked with wetland owners. They protected about 40% of the shoreline. This was almost 5 miles of riprap armor. People have also talked about using breakwater structures to help with erosion.
Water Quality Concerns
Lake Koshkonong is known for its green color. This comes from algae and nutrients flowing in from the Rock River. The lake is called hypereutrophic. This means it has too many nutrients and is shallow. The water is not clear, and algal blooms happen often.
A lake is hypereutrophic if it has:
- More than 40 micrograms/liter of chlorophyll
- More than 100 micrograms/liter of phosphorus
- Visibility less than 3 feet deep
The TSI scale also helps. A lake with a TSI score above 50 is hypereutrophic. Lake Koshkonong has a TSI score of 67. Algal blooms can lead to high levels of blue-green algae. This can be harmful to people and pets. Blue-green algae has been found in parts of Lake Koshkonong. The Rock County Public Health Department advises not to swim in areas with green scum. Also avoid areas that look like blue or white paint, or like pea soup.
Proposed Nuclear Power Plant
In the 1970s, Lake Koshkonong was considered for a big nuclear power plant. Several power companies worked together on this idea. They chose Lake Koshkonong from 84 possible places. This was because of the strong rock for the foundation. Also, the Rock River could provide enough water.
The plan was to build two pressurized-water reactor units. Each would make 900 MW of power. Construction was hoped to start in 1978. But environmental groups strongly opposed the plan. It was stopped in 1977. People worried about the lake's shallow depth. They also worried about how the plant would work during drought conditions. Water would leave the lake to cool the plant. Residents were also worried about other parts of the project. The power plant would have moved many residents. It would also have taken over farmland. Farmers would have lost about $27,500 each year in crops.
The Koshkonong Alert Group was an anti-nuclear group. They formed to fight against the power plant. Attempts were made to move the plant to Haven, Wisconsin. This is near Sheboygan. But power companies gave up on building a nuclear plant in Wisconsin. This happened after the Three Mile Island accident in Pennsylvania. The plant was planned for Vickerman Road, east of the lake.(42°51′37″N 88°53′27″W / 42.86028°N 88.89083°W)
