.pdf Adobe document will open in a new browser window.
Maintained by csPublisher :: WWW.CGISCRIPT.NET, LLC
Fisheries Committee
The goal of the Fisheries Committee is to preserve and improve the quality of fishing in Lake Kegonsa.They meet with various agencies and concerned individuals to discuss ways to achieve this.Topics of interest include: breeding habitats, fish cribs, fish stocking, invasive species (plant & fish) and harmful runoff.
Fish Crib Project The FOLKS Fish Committee after years of planning built and placed 31 fish cribs into Lake Kegonsa in the spring of 2009. This was a joint effort between FOLKS and the DNR. FOLKS provided the funding for all materials, some equipment, and barge rental and got many volunteers to provide most of the labor. The DNR obtained all permits, provided additional equipment and labor, including crib design and location. Because of the limited amount of structure in Lake Kegonsa, we hope this can be an every 3 -5 year project. Free lake maps distributed by Dane County Parks show the GPS crib locations.
Five fish cribs were placed in the lake in 2008 in the following locations.
DegreesDegrees, MinutesDegrees, Min, Sec
1. 42.96754° x -89.23289°42° 58.0524 X -89° 13.973442° 58 3.1 X -89° 13 57.6
2. 42.96765° x -89.23277°42° 58.0590 X -89° 13.966242° 58 3.5 X -89° 13 57.9
3. 42.96760° x -89.23247°42° 58.0560 X -89° 13.394242° 58 3.4 X -89° 13 24.7
4. 42.96746° x -89.23231°42° 58.0476 X -89° 13.938642° 58 2.9 X -89° 13 56.3
5. 42.96741° x -89.23260°42° 58.0446 X -89° 13.956042° 58 2.7 X -89° 13 57.4
Aquatic Plant Management Committee
The committee is concerned with reducing invasive and harmful aquatic plants.This is a major concern for almost everyone who enjoys spending time on the lake.The committee has been in close contact with Dane County and DNR officials regarding future plans for weed control in Lake Kegonsa.
Aquatic Plant Survey
On Thursday June 10th, Peter Foy, Ray Potempa, and Tom McGinnis conducted a survey of the lake to assess the aquatic plant growth situation.We began the survey from Peters dock using his boat.We proceeded clockwise around the lake, following the shoreline.We encountered fairly thick growth almost immediately out from shore at a depth of approximately 4 to 5 feet.As we moved out to 6.5 to 7 feet it cleared up.This pattern continued around Lunds Point and well into Barbers Bay.We encountered a couple of clear areas; however the growth was pretty consistent in all of Barbers Bay all the way to Colladay Point.From that point on we encountered very minor growth in the rest of the lake.Most of the vegetation we encountered was Eurasian watermilfoil.
Rules and Regulation Committee
Of universal concern to most riparian owners, are the proposed regulations regarding piers and boatlifts. The Rules and Regulation Committee have very diligently been tracking the progress of these regulations over the past year.
A special meeting was held on 6/12/10 to assist FOLKS members to fill out the forms to document piers existing before 2/6/04.Piers not conforming to the new regulations can be grandfathered to maintain them as is.
Strategic Planning Committee
The goal of the Strategic Planning Committee is to stay aware of the interests and concerns of our members. We conduct an annual survey and after careful analysis of the responses we modify our strategic direction if necessary. We also use the survey responses to monitor the level of satisfaction our members have with the various FOLKS activities, such as our Newsletter, Lake Alerts, Educational Sessions, Committee work, etc.
A survey was sent to all members with e-mail addresses on file to gauge the interest in FOLKS activities.A form that could be mailed was included in the September newsletter.
FOLKS Lake Level and Flow Rate Subcommittee
The water flow in the Yahara River between Lake Waubesa and Lake Kegonsa was monitored to determine if there are one or more natural or manmade features in the Yahara River flow path between the two lakes that are seriously restricting the flow of water from Lake Waubesa into Lake Kegonsa.
The study was completed and the results presented at the annual meeting.A summary of those results is as follows:
Water Quality Committee
The mission of the Water Quality Committee of FOLKS is to engage in activities that directly improve the water quality of Lake Kegonsa and to support quality projects for the Yahara Chain of Lakes.
Stoughton Sanitary District, Dane County Soil Conservation, NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service), WDNR and the USDA developed a solution to prevent run-off from agricultural land from entering Lake Kegonsa.A prairie restoration was placed along HWY B (parallel with the highway) which will flow into a 6.3 acre piece of land that will be taken out of production and replaced with native plants.
The Prairie Restoration project was funded by FOLKS, Town of Dunn, and the USDA.
A similar project several years ago created a retention pond near Barber Drive.The reduction of sediment into the lake is an important water quality issue.
Newsletter/Communications Committee
The Newsletter Committee has produced the newsletter for many years and is also producing this web site.
Membership Committee
The Membership committee reports that we have 330 members.
Social and Education Committee
The goal of the Education Committee is to provide education to FOLKS members on subjects relating to Lake Kegonsa.They annually work with the Dane County Sheriffs office on promoting youth boating education classes.Topics of interest include: water safety, boating and zoning regulations
The Social and Education Committee promoted the Sheriffs Department Boater Safety Class.
Past Activities
Door Creek Wetlands Project The Door Creek Wetlands is the undeveloped area on the far north side of the lake, just east of the Yahara River inlet. The wetlands area is important because rainwater is filtered through the wetlands thus trapping pollutants and sediment from the water before it enters the lake. The marsh also provides a large amount of habitat for aquatic and terrestrial life, a fish spawning area, and it can be useful as a natural flood control area. Starting in the 1920s, Door Creek was ditched and straightened to improve drainage of farmland. Needless to say, this had an overall negative effect on the lake and wildlife habitat.
Since 1993, FOLKS had been involved in efforts to restore the wetlands to its natural state. FOLKS administered an environmental study to address concerns about the wetlands. In 1998 Dane County received a DNR grant to develop the Door Creek Wetlands Resource Protection Plan. FOLKS was one of several groups involved in putting the plan together. Ultimately, the plan was approved by the Dane County Board of Supervisors and was included in the Dane County Parks and Open Space Plan.
FOLKS would like to re-establish the original stream channels and redirect the flow back into the Marsh to restore the wetlands and encourage storm water management. Since Door Creek is the second largest inflow into Lake Kegonsa, active working wetlands are a definite asset in improving overall water quality in the Lake.
This is an ongoing project and one we will be working on in 2006. So far, FOLKS has helped to facilitate public land acquisitions which are necessary before any physical projects can be undertaken. Numerous State and County acquisitions of wetland parcels have been made since 2002.
Fish Crib Project The DNR fishery manager wanted to experiment with the use of fish cribs to improve fishing on the Madison lakes. FOLKS volunteered to undertake the project because of the limited amount of structure in Lake Kegonsa. This was a five year project with FOLKS supplying all of the materials and labor required for the building and placing of 280 fish cribs. DNR staff obtained the permits and identified the eight locations. Free lake maps distributed by Dane County Parks show the GPS crib locations.
Barber Drive Retention Pond A culvert on Barber Drive was causing a lot of run off to be dumped directly into the lake (a source of pollutants and sediment). A retention pond was recommended to hold the water so it could be filtered naturally instead of dumping directly into the lake. In this case, FOLKS acted as a facilitator for stakeholders in the project. Meetings with Town of Dunn officials/engineers, Dane County erosion engineers, Research Park offices, and land owners were convened to discuss possible solutions. In the end, monies were appropriated in the Town’s budget, engineering plans drafted, easements granted, and construction was completed for the necessary retention ponds.
