Dane County is restoring part of Door Creek to its original meandering path, as part of a plan to improve habitat and water quality. The restoration details can be seen here. Conservation practices placed throughout the watershed since the plan’s inception in 2016, such as grassed waterways and harvestable buffers along streams, have helped achieve upwards of 60% of the nutrient reduction goal to reduce phosphorus delivery to Lake Kegonsa. Another large source of phosphorus entering the lake is from eroded soil that has accumulated in the bed of Door Creek for over a century, commonly referred to as legacy sediment. Following substantial conservation efforts to address erosion in upland areas, restoration targets have shifted to the creek itself and adjoining wetlands. In particular, the two-mile stretch of creek extending from County Highway MN to the confluence with the lake, where restoration goals include: 

    Realignment of the creek to its previous flow path.

   Removal of phosphorus laden sediment from the current channel.

   Creation and improvement of aquatic and terrestrial habitat.

   Protection of high quality wetland areas.

​

The Door Creek Drainage District has granted their approval following demonstration that the project will result in no net increase in water level rise.

​