Misc Website

Book Website

...Sterling North also wrote a number of biographies of American literary and historical figures that added to his reputation as one of the most popular twentieth-century writers for young adults.

He was born on November 4, 1906, on a small farm overlooking Lake Koshkonong, near Edgerton, Wisconsin

Information Website

Outdoor Report

Jefferson County - The snowmobile trails in Jefferson County are open and are being groomed. Snow depth ranges from 14 inches down to only 1 inch on the windswept open fields. Some sharp curves in the trails are icy so slower speeds are recommended. Numerous crashes in Jefferson County recently are occurring because of the excess use of alcohol and speed, especially at night.

Ice fishing success since the bitter cold snap has slowed activity. A few northern pike were still being caught on Rock Lake mostly on the north end. Ice conditions on the Jefferson County lakes ranges from 12 inches to 1.5 feet.

Trucks, ATVs and snowmobiles were being driven on most of the lakes.

On Lake Koshkonong there is one ice heave out in the middle of the lake that runs from just northwest of Haights Bay across the lake toward Norms.

Rabbit hunting tournaments are being held every weekend at different taverns.

Hunters are having good success with the aid of the snow. Coyote hunters have also been out in force with fresh snow. Mating season is in effect for coyotes so they are being seen in pairs.

Response to Eric Ganser

Purple loosestrife

Eric Ganser comments really don't make a lot of sense

1) Purple loosestrife spreads from a variety of reasons not just floods and has been in the US since the 1800's. It's habitat is vast, purple loosestrife occurs widely in wet habitats, such as marshes, bogs, pannes, fens, sedge meadows, and wet prairies, but it also occurs in roadside ditches, on river banks, and at the edges of reservoirs.

2) Seeds may be dispersed by water, wind and in mud attached to animals.
Purple loosestrife also spreads vegetatively. Root or stem segments can form new flowering stems. Muskrat cuttings and mechanical clipping can also contribute to rapid spread by floating in riverine and lacustrine systems.

3) How can he say the trees in the flood plan forest will be blow downs?
They are flood plan forests that have been flooded numerous times and still continue to grow. If he is trying to insinuate that the dirt behind the riprap was flood plan forest dirt floor he is wrong, the fill/dirt that fills in behind the riprap is sediment from the lakes bottom that becomes suspended from wave action and washes over the top of the riprap and settles to the bottom.

Joe Fuller
*part time camper

Lake Koshkonong Northern

From the Edgerton Reporter...

Lake Koshkonong Iceboat in 1964

Near Maple Beach....

thanks to Tom Sherman.

Lake Level Dropping

776.62 - roughtly 10+ inches OVER Winter MAX.

Comment from Eric Ganser

Brian,
The flood certainly helped purple loosestrife spread all over the marsh. It seems a little early to declare the flood a huge success.
Maybe we should wait a year or five to conduct a real study. By then the flooded forests should all be blow downs because all the dirt got trapped behind the rip rap.
The purple loosestrife is really pretty though.
Signed,
I am not buying it

Wetland Survey (10-17-08) Posted

Newly posted on the Scientific data page -

Lake Koshkonong Lake and Wetland Survey - October 17, 2008

__________________________________

REPRINT

Indications suggest flood helped lake

From the Letter to Editor Janesville Gazette
_____________________________________________________

If early indications tell us anything, numerous online postings (many with pictures) indicate the ice fishing on Lake Koshkonong will be outstanding this year. This should come as good news to all the business owners on and around the lake still smarting from last year's flood.

The post-flood tally is as follows: The ecosystem of the lake was not adversely impacted; fishing has prospered; hydrologist and biologist research indicates that the wetlands also prospered as invasive species were drowned and protective riprap did its job as sediment deposits behind the riprap have generated regrowth of native species of wetland vegetation.

I hope the DNR has a New Year's resolution to act on behalf of all its constituents.

Find a compromise in the ongoing battle for higher water levels and move on to bigger and better improvements on the lake for the benefit of everyone.

Let's get out of the courts and on the lake!
STEVEN PROUD
Fort Atkinson

Wicked: Coldest Temps In Over A Decade

Florida seems to be a good place to be right now...

Rock River, Downstream from Anchor Inn.

Racing at Sunset

FROZEN FOUR-WHEELING — Race fans who might be suffering a bit of withdrawal during the winter months should head over to Lake Koshkonong. On Sundays throughout January, they can catch a glimpse of racing of a different sort in front of Sunset Tavern.

The Southern Wisconsin Ice Racing Association is sponsoring the ATV and motorcycle races, which begin around 11 a.m. on Sundays and finish up by about 4 or 5 p.m.

During the last weekend of January, races will occur on Saturday and Sunday. This week’s cold snap should ensure plenty of solid ice for the upcoming races, as temperatures are expected to only reach minus 6 degrees below zero on Thursday.

The National Weather Service has issued a wind chill warning for Jefferson County, which is in effect from 6 tonight through noon on Friday. Pictured above are some ATV racers on the lake last Sunday.
— Daily Union photo by Jim Furley

A Koshkonong Fish Story

If only John Gillespie was on Lake Koshkonong to film this...RKLD Commissioner & Treasurer Ray Lunder with his 2 favorite menu items.

One Year Ago

Record December 2008 Snow Fall

Through Tuesday (12-23-08), Madison had received 37.5 inches of snow so far this winter of 2008-09 (4.3 inches fell in November), 9.6 inches more than the 27.9 inches that fell through Dec. 23 during the record snowfall of the winter of 2007-08.
___________________________________________

Brian;

Last winter, an all-time record for snow was set at 100+"

This year, we are ahead of that pace.

What do lake levels look like today?

Ron B (seasonal resident)

_________________________________________

Ron -

On this date last year, the lake level was 779.2

Today, we are at 777.01

The lake is 26 1/4 inches lower this year than last, and declining.

Brian

Great Koshkonong Ice Fisheree

Saturday, Feb 7th

6am to 4pm

Contact Norm's Hideaway for details.

Ice Racing

TV-15, Madison

...The SWIRA will race in Fort Atkinson on Lake Koshkonong for about two more weeks.

Diggin' in: Dredging of Lake Leota begins

Janesville Gazette


BY THE NUMBERS

24

Hours a day two crews are working

6,000

Cubic yards of material taken from lake per 12-hour shift

200,000

Cubic yards of material to be removed by completion

20

Cubic yards carried in an off-road truck per load

60

Loads each truck carries in a 12-hour shift

130,000

Pounds a loaded truck weighs

80

Acres on which the dredged material is being spread

$3,480

Cost of diesel fuel used by equipment every 12-hour shift

$1.37 million

Amount city borrowed for the project

$30

Cost of the project this year for a taxpayer with a $100,000 home

$885,069

Integrity's winning bid

777.4 - Wayyy Over Winter Lake Levels

Lake level has crested and is now dropping.

14.4 inches above Summer Target.

19.6 inches above WINTER MAX.

All gates are 100% open.

RKLD must drain 2 feet of lake level to comply with DNR operating orders.

Indications suggest flood helped lake

From the Letter to Editor Janesville Gazette
_____________________________________________________

If early indications tell us anything, numerous online postings (many with pictures) indicate the ice fishing on Lake Koshkonong will be outstanding this year. This should come as good news to all the business owners on and around the lake still smarting from last year's flood.

The post-flood tally is as follows: The ecosystem of the lake was not adversely impacted; fishing has prospered; hydrologist and biologist research indicates that the wetlands also prospered as invasive species were drowned and protective riprap did its job as sediment deposits behind the riprap have generated regrowth of native species of wetland vegetation.

I hope the DNR has a New Year's resolution to act on behalf of all its constituents.

Find a compromise in the ongoing battle for higher water levels and move on to bigger and better improvements on the lake for the benefit of everyone.

Let's get out of the courts and on the lake!
STEVEN PROUD
Fort Atkinson

Misc Comments

As long as they keep a 15 inch length limit, this lake will be fine for years to come.
AA

Not if people keep bragging about catching limit after limit and more guys keep pounding it...
BB

In case any of you haven't been on lake-links lately, it is starting to get really heated. I read this morning 4 posts that are no longer there and it was in regards to John Gillespie being out there today taping a show. I don't even know if he was out, if he was it wasn't near Haight's Bay. I just noticed all of the posts about John being out there have been taken down too. There are some really upset people complaining about others catching fish.

Two weeks ago when we were out there were easily 200 guys off of Vinnie which I have only seen during one of the Bounty Hunts. I can only imagine how many people will be out there once/if the show is aired.

Let's just hope no one gets hurt not knowing the lake.
CC

I’ve been following the Koshkonong discussion on lake-link.com for the past couple of weeks. A guy with the handle “Koshkonong Crippler” posted photos of limit catches.

It’s the same old story every time a lake gets hot – a guy gets cocky bragging about his catches and locals claim we will be invaded by folks from Illinois, John Gillespie will arrive with his cameras, and the fishery will be destroyed.

Ultimately, most of the folks show up after the hot bite is over. I think John Gillespie is good for the sport. He’s enthusiastic about fishing, never claimed to be a professional angler, and is tourism’s best friend.

I suspect the folks at area gas stations, restaurants, and bait/tackle stores are pleased to have the business.

The recent activity on Koshkonong also reflects well on the ecosystem and lake level arguments presented by the RKLD. The flood didn’t harm the fish. In fact, the population thrived.
DD

Amen to that.

We had both our hydrologist and our biologist out on the lake in October, and documented how the fishery has prospered and also, as counterintuitive as it sounds, the wetlands prospered as well, post flood conditions. Invasive species were essentially drowned, and where the RKLD sponsored wetland protection grants for the rip rapping, sediment was deposited behind the rock, generating new native wetland plant growth.

But of course, you will never see a column by Duncan Pledger regarding how much value the RKLD brings to the entire Koshkonong ecosystem.
Brian