Lake has Crested...Again

yesterday - 778.36; today - 778.29

Still 2 feet over summer max.

Public hearings needed on radical - and radically different - NR115

From Lakeland Times

...By last week's end, some of those backers discovered they hadn't known what was actually in the rule. To cite one example, and without mentioning any names, some seemed flabbergasted to find out that new standards limiting impervious surfaces would be applied to properties as far away as 1,000 feet from the ordinary high water mark of a lake.

They found out only after we reported it and told them.

...So, on northern lakes, if this rule carries the day, the DNR's shoreland jurisdiction in northern Wisconsin expands from a slight nudge more than 87,000 acres to more than 1.16 million acres, an increase of 1,233 percent!

That's literally hundreds of thousands of additional lots under the DNR's thumb. That's just in northern Wisconsin, too, and it doesn't include properties along rivers and streams.

Koshkonong Should Crest Saturday

Lake Level = 778.36

Inflow = 3,680 cfs

Outflow = 3,750 cfs

Koshkonong Fireworks Set for July 11th

Brian,

The fireworks are set for July 11th at about 9:20 pm.

We are asking all who enjoy the show to by a $5 raffle calendar to help fund the fireworks.

The raffle calendars are available at Sunset, Norm's, North Shore Inn Mounds Country Club and the Fort VFW Club.

Thenks
Frank

Will we get a dry summer this year?

Remember this, from 4 years ago?

Drought Conditions Exist June 21, 2005

Wisconsin officials adopt new shoreline building regulations

NEW RICHMOND, Wis. (AP) — The state Natural Resources Board has approved the first updates to Wisconsin’s shoreline building regulations in more than 40 years.

Property owners would have to limit waterproof surfaces such as roofs and driveways. Buildings within 75 feet of the water would be limited to 35 feet in height.

Homeowners who want to expand a pre-existing structure within 75 feet of the water would have to improve water quality and wildlife habitat. Rules limiting spending on renovations to pre-existing structures to 50 percent of their value would be wiped out, allowing unlimited repairs and internal remodeling.

The board approved the changes 6-0. The rules now go to the Legislature’s natural resources committees.

Lake level will keep rising...

lake level = 778.27 (2 feet OVER DNR summer target)

inflow - 4,260 cfs and dropping

outflow - 3,640 cfs

Upstream Levels...

Why No USGS Predictions?

No forecast/prediction to future water levels are being displayed...

Back Above 778

Lake Level = 778.03

Inflow = 3,940 cfs (5 days of increasing flow)

Ouflow = 3,530 cfs

We can expect the lake level to keep rising...

With NR115, DNR can score a Super Trifecta

Lakeland Times

Fish kill reported along Rock River

STERLING, Ill. (AP) -- Illinois investigators are trying to figure out what caused a fish kill on the Rock River in northwestern Illinois - between Grand Detour and Sterling.

Sgt. Carl Lewis of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources says they're trying to determine if the run off from a train derailment in the Rockford area got into the Kishaukee River, which flows into the Rock River. That train was carrying ethanol, and Friday's derailment caused an explosion that killed one person.

The Department of Natural Resources is working with the state Environmental Protection Agency and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency.

The state is advising the public not to eat fish from the Rock River in Ogle, Lee and Whiteside counties until the cause of the fish kill is determined.

Flash Flood Warnings

Flowing downstream to Koshkonong

Koshkonong Level Remains Steady

Many have commented that the lake/river level has stayed steady - dropping just 4 inches since June 1st, and just 1.08 inches since last week Friday.

June rainfall has totalled under an inch opposite last year's all-time record rainfall.

Each of the gauges downstream show the same flat line of river levels, indicating the Mississippi River level is holding back drainage from the Rock.

Koshkonong Rain; So Far, So Good

June 2009 nothing like June 2008...so far.

Record Rain JUNE 2008

Rock River at Moline, IL - End of the Line

Army Corp of Engineers, Rock River at Mississippi

The Rock River

From Horicon to the Quad Cities

Where the Rock River Ends

The Quad Cities, where the Rock River (below) joins the Mississippi. Iowa, with Davenport and Bettendorf, is above. Rock Island, Moline and East Moline are in illinois and sandwiched between the two rivers in the middle. Milan and the Quad Cities Airport (MLI) are below the Rock river. Rock Island is the big one in the Mississippi.

Lake Koshkonong Weather Forecast

Edgerton, WI USA

Gateway to Lake Koshkonong - at least that is what the billboard says...

IL River Dredging

IL River Dredging

...However, without an immediate investment in our waterways we will lose access to this economical and ecological advantage.

...To right this wrong, a coalition ranging from the Audubon Society to the American Farm Bureau...

...The Navigation and Ecosystem Restoration Project, or NESP...

...The Illinois and Mississippi rivers provide habitat for more than 25 percent of North America’s fish species and 60 percent of the North American bird species. These fish and fowl provide alluring targets for the millions of hunters and anglers who flock to the region. But in order to keep these fish and fishermen, ducks and duck hunters coming back to my district every year, we need to ensure that there is adequate habitat.

Latest NR 115 zoning draft mirrors Vilas County's code

Vilas County News Review

Shoreland zoning rule would expand DNR regulations

Lakeland Times

...Those zones stretch to 300 feet from the ordinary high water mark of rivers and streams and to 1,000 feet from the OHWM of lakes, ponds and flowages. Among the elements added are requirements for mitigation and limitations on the amount of impervious surfaces on a shoreland lot or parcel.

SNW Restriction LIFTED

No, really, it really is, serious, not kidding this time, no joking, for real.

777.42 today

Thank you Fulton Township, for your expertise and stewardship on behalf of the boating public.

SLOW NO WAKE Remains in Effect III

777.48 - Still NO WAKE

Work after flood not yet receding

Daily Jefferson County Union

...Wisconsin was inundated with rain - approximately 13 inches in the Fort Atkinson area - on the weekend of June 7-8, 2008, pushing already-swollen river levels up and causing extensive damage, including washing out a levy that formed the popular Lake Delton near the Wisconsin Dells.

In the Jefferson County area, record-setting water levels were recorded at gauges along the Rock River from Watertown to Newville and beyond.

One year later, with rivers and lakes at comfortably "normal" levels, Jefferson County Emergency Management director Donna Haugom continues to spend nearly all of her time dealing with long-term recovery efforts related to what's become known as "The Flood of 2008."

NR 115 - Every Ripararian Property Owner Should Read This

Previous Posts

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

...Homes, driveways - even lawns - all have an effect on water quality and aquatic habitat. "The changes we are talking about today are not a magic bullet that is going to fix all of the problems, but they are a significant piece of the puzzle," said Gregg Breese, shore land program manager with the DNR.

Turf Lawns may be better...



...

STILL Slow NO WAKE

lake level = 777.52

inflow = 1,390 cfs
outflow = 3,030 cfs

And boats are flying-by at full speed.

Deluge of Rain

Think the rain impacted water levels?
Think the rain meant the SNW should remain?

Before Monday's deluge = 777.66 - inflow = 1,430 cfs - outflow = 3,190
After Monday's deluge = 777.61 - inflow = 1,430 cfs - outflow = 3,090

Hydrology is a complicated thing.

SNW is NOT Removed

UPDATED Janesville Gazette

DNR Boat Launch to Reopen

Brian,
I live just off of Ellendale and a member of RKLD, I use the public boat launch down by the DNR. It still remains closed even though the SNW has been lifted. Any info.

Thanks.
Bill P.

Don Bush of the DNR just informed me that the DNR landing/boat launch at the end of Elledale Road should be reopened yet this week - although the piers may not be in; depending on availability of equipment to reset the piers.

Where Should SNW Be?

What do you think I should recommend to the Town as a standard for the lifting of restrictions. I have not heard back from the DNR as to their opinion. The landing at the carp Pens is still closed.

The towns used to remove the S-N-W at a little above 778 and no shoreline was damaged because of it.

The town boards have to realize that once the water level drops within it natural banks (approx 779 or NOAA/NWS action stage) within is dropping rapidly (as much as 10/12”s every 6 days) and every weekend the S-N-W remains in effect is revenue lost for all of the surrounding business not just the lake & river area it also affects the county & towns.

City of Janesville Removes SNW

ROBERT D. SPODEN

ROCK COUNTY SHERIFF

BARBARA J. TILLMAN CHIEF DEPUTY

200 EAST U. S. HIGHWAY 14

JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN 53545-9601

PHONE: (608)757-8000 FAX: (608)757-7997

NEWS RELEASE

SLOW-NO-WAKE FOR CITY OF JANESVILLE LIFTED
For Immediate Release Contact Person
June 8, 2009 Capt. Gary L. Groelle
608-757-7906

The City of Janesville are requesting that the Rock County Sheriff’s Office lift the "Slow No Wake" postings due to the Rock River falling below flood stage in these areas.

SNW is Confusing...On or Off??

Brian; The link is not working. Is the SNW off?
Rob

I don't know.

Slow, no wake posting lifted in Fulton Township

This is so confusing...

Janesville Gazette

FULTON TOWNSHIP--The Rock County Sheriff's Office has lifted the slow, no-wake ban, at the request of Fulton Town Board Chairman Evan Sayre, now that the Rock River has fallen below flood stage in Fulton Township, according to a press release from the sheriff's office.

Lake Level Graph - Water Level

Hello –
Just curious, where’s the prediction of water levels on the “advanced hydrological prediction service?” For more than a week now, the Rock River Newville graph has been indicating the current lake level only.
Bob

Bob -
I'm not certain but I think the National Weather Service only makes predictions when they think levels will get to flood levels (or close to it).

If they don't anticipate flooding they direct their resources elsewhere. The NWS makes the forecasts.
Brian

Follow-up Public Comment on SNW

Brian;
Thank you for providing the link to the Hydrology Testimony. I found it very informative. And it directly answers some of the questions I posted earlier.

1. Is Evan Sayre correct about the technical implementation of the higher water level by using year-round planks on the dam?

No, he’s not. No mention is made of making adjustments to the spillway of the dam. It seems that the change in water level operating order would just affect the control position of the wicker and slide gates.

2. How much would the plan to increase water level would worsen floods when they happen?

Not a noticeable amount according to the testimony. Our lake is relatively small compared to its drainage area. High water events occur because of sustained high inflow to the lake. As we have seen in recent years the water level stays at or around the crest level for days or weeks. The ultimate height of the crest is a function of the sustained volume of inflow into the lake which is then matched by the outflow at Indianford as a function of water level. The starting lake level is not a significant factor in the equation.

The question about of the validity of the Fulton’s theory that the banks need time to dry after a flood isn’t directly addressed.
Ken

SNW to be removed in 5 days

Memo

To: Sheriff Bob Spoden, Rock County Sheriff’s Dept.
CC: Ed Marshall, Town of Janesville, Tom Presny, Parks Director, City of Janesville
Lori Williams, Rock County Parks Director

From: Evan Sayre, Town of Fulton Chairman

Date: June 8, 2009

Re: Slow No Wake

The high water that we were experiencing has receded to a level we feel allows for the normal operation of water craft in our township. Therefore, we are requesting that the slow no wake restriction be lifted as of Friday, June 12th, 2009.

If you have any questions, feel free to call the Town Office at 608-868-4103.

Thank you!

Is Today the Perfect Water Level?

Many think so, but no, at - lake level = 777.66 - we are still about 8 inches ABOVE RKLD's requested summer operating level.

Inflow = 1,430 cfs - 4 consecutive days of DECREASED flow. Outflow = 3,110 cfs

And the town of Fulton keeps the SLOW NO-WAKE in effect.

Tales from the DNR

WI STATE JOURNAL

SOS: When DNR swoops in, trailside gardeners are out of luck

There have been tomatoes, asparagus, raspberries, onions and other garden-grown goodies sprouting from the strip of land along McCormick Street in Belleville for some 40 years now.

But on Tuesday, Ian Campbell’s decades-old rhubarb plants were being taken over by weeds and fellow gardener Jane Jelle hadn’t even bothered to put in any pumpkins or flowers.

“We kind of have given up because who can fight the government?” Jelle said. “This is going to be nothing but weeds, and who wants to see weeds blowing in their yard?”

Campbell’s and Jelle’s gardens — located across the street from their homes — adjoin what used to be a railroad and today is a section of the Badger State Trail, a 40-mile recreational path that officially opened two years ago.

Since April 2000, the state Department of Natural Resources has been responsible for managing the land, which it leases from the state Department of Transportation.

As such, it’s not land you can garden on, mow or do much more than walk through and gaze at — not that anyone with the state has done much to enforce those rules until about a month ago, when a DNR worker told Campbell that his 36-year-old garden would have to go.

“It’s not that we’ve been ignoring it,” said Steve Johnston, the trail’s DNR manager, but the agency has only so many staff members and it’s not always easy to find people who encroach on state lands.

Johnston said that by gardening and mowing the land, Campbell and Jelle are “basically taking a right that no one else has” — using state land for free — and preventing the land from returning to a DNR-preferred prairie habitat.

Jelle contended that “if we didn’t mow the grass, it would look just terrible over there. ... We’re doing them a favor by maintaining it.”

One neighbor’s overgrown, weedy lot might just be the DNR’s idea of natural habitat, according to Johnston, who said “a prize rose bush in the middle of a football field is a weed.”

As are, apparently, a few tomato plants next to a state trail.

Public Comment on SNW

Brian;
It appears the majority of the Town of Fulton Board is from the farm community and none of them recognize the tremendous value and revenue the town generates from Waterfront Properties Owners, Businesses and Tourism or the Board would have been calling their Chairman and complaining like the rest of there constituents; telling him to remove the Slow-No-Wake Order.

It is also very apparent Chairman Evan Sayre is governing the town like a dictator instead of in a democratic manner, which he was elected to do or he would have removed the Slow-No-Wake rule last week when they did it below the Indianford Dam.

Jack

Koshkonong to Indianford; Still NO WAKE

Some wake restrictions lifted from Rock River
By GAZETTE STAFF

Three municipalities have requested the Rock County Sheriff’s Office lift the slow/no wake restrictions on some parts of the Rock River.

The towns of Rock and Janesville have requested the restrictions be lifted because the river has fallen below flood stage, according to a news release from the sheriff’s office.

North of Janesville, the town of Fulton has asked the sheriff’s office to remove the restriction on the river below the Indianford Dam.

Until further notice, the slow/no wake restriction will remain in effect on the Rock River from north of the Indianford Dam to Lake Koshkonong.

We are Now BELOW the OHWM

OHWM = Ordinary High Water Mark

DNR Defines OHWM

Lake Level = 778.09

Inflow = 2,150 cfs

Outflow = 3,640 cfs

Lake Level Keeps Dropping 2009

NOAA

More comments on Slow No Wake

Brian,

The whole SNW thing is a joke; it will be removed when certain people are ready. The resistance that is put forth just seems to fuel the fire. It really is irrelevant at this point, everyone is making wakes (most people don’t even know the definition of SNW) and it goes unenforced unless of course I was to make a wake….

P.S. as this short message was being written 3 boats just passed making wakes…
Carl

Town of Fulton SNW Ordinance Language

Added 5-14-1998

A. No person shall operate a power-driven boat on the Rock River, in the Town of Fulton, Rock County, Wisconsin, faster than a slow no-wake speed in the following areas when posted:

(1) From a point 100 feet west of Interstate 90 to a point 1,500 feet east of the Newville Bridge (Highway 59).

(2) An area 250 feet on either side of the railroad bridge.

(3) From a point beginning at Cliff Lodge to the Indianford Bridge, a distance of approximately 1,000 feet.

B. For the purpose of this section the term "slow no-wake" shall mean operating a boat at the slowest speed at which said boat can be operated and still maintain forward motion and steerage control.

C. Penalties. Wisconsin state boating penalties as found in § 30.80, Wis.
Stats., and deposits as established in the Uniform Deposit and Bail Schedule established by the Wisconsin Judicial Conference are hereby adopted by reference with all references to fines amended to forfeitures and all references to imprisonment deleted.

SNW follow-up suggestions

Brian
What you have to do is take a copy of Montgomery’s testimony to Sayre or actually show/read the areas that make him look like an idiot. He is doing exactly what all of our opponents do talk BS with no facts to back up his statements.
Jack
___________________________

Right, here is a link to what you referred to....

Hydrology Testimony

SNW Follow-Up

I am being swamped with comments about the slow no wake. I will post answers and comments to address all concerns shortly.

Thanks to everyone for being engaged on this issue - on both sides.

More comments on SNW

Brian;
Well, I talked to Evan, and after he got done complaining about all the phone calls about the water levels and the SNW rule, I asked him if he would entertain the idea of the LD taking over the SNW calls. He backpedaled pretty quickly and became defensive about them not being able to do it, which I thought was humorous after he just got done complaining about it.

All in all, he said they wait until 7.5 and then start the process to lift the SNW order. I don't know what he's talking about when he says "start the process". He started into having to get the boat patrol out, getting buoys in place, working with state and local officials, etc.... which he said was a multi day process.

All we are talking about is who makes the call to put the SNW on, and take it off. That would only require one call to the sheriff dept. He really got mad at my questions.

At the end, he said he would bring this to his board. Interesting conversation.
Ron

Comments on Slow NO Wake

Brian Christianson,

I just had a 12 minute conversation with Evan Sayre, Fulton Town Chairman as advised by a recent email to the RKLD email list and the recent RKLD blog posts. Since Evan Sayre indicated to me that he's not a big fan of the internet, I figure it's up to me to post the information from the conversation.

Evan indicated to me that the decision process for lifting no-wake orders is a complex one. It involves both the current lake level and the speed that it is dropping. He also indicated that it takes 3 to 4 days to execute the decision to lift the no-wake order because it involves ensuring that all of the buoys in place.

Evan indicated that the decision is made conservatively because of the potential for damage to the river banks. He says that allowing the banks to dry out for a few days before subjecting them to waves helps. He says that in the past the no-wake has been lifted too early and that damage has resulted.

Evan explained the past variability in the water level at the time of releasing the no-wake restriction is a result of differences in the rate that the river is dropping (Based on the bank drying time theory, the no-wake should be dropped at a lower level if the river is dropping quickly) and the uncertainty caused by the 3 or 4 day delay in implementing a no-wake order removal.

We also discussed his opinion of the plan to increase the water level by 8 inches. He thinks that the result of having 8 more inches of water in the summer would be nice, but that the practical matter of implementing the change would subject the river to higher probability of severe flooding. The way he explained it is that the dam at Indianford has support posts for wooden planks across the top of the dam. There are 2 ways that water gets past the dam: Going over the top of the dam and going through the control gates. During a flood, the control gates are open all the way so the amount of water going over the top of the dam affects the magnitude of the flood. The plan to increase the water level would be implemented by re-installing planks across the top of the dam as had been done years ago. The installation and removal of these planks is no easy task and there is no plan to remove them during a period of high flow rate. So inevitably the magnitude of a spring flood would be worsened by the existence of planks on top of the dam. He suggested that last year's flood would have been 6 inches higher had there been planks on the dam. I am somewhat skeptical of that because claim last year the water level downstream of the dam was so high that the dam barely made a bump in the flow. I don't know what is the correct calculation for the impact of planks on the dam for a sever flood like 2008 or a moderate one like 2009.

I suggested to Evan that I think that the ideal river level strategy would be to raise the summer level but to extend the winter drawdown into the late spring past the usual flood danger period. He agreed that that would be an ideal strategy but indicated that it is infeasable because of the affore mentioned issue with planks on the dam.

So my questions for RKLD are:
1. Is Evan Sayre correct about the technical implementation of the higher water level by using year-round planks on the dam?
2. How much would the plan to increase water level would worsen floods when they happen?
3. What does RKLD think of the Fulton's theory that banks need time to dry before removing the no-wake?
4. How can the actual decision process installing and removing no-wake restriction be better publicized? (See the notice Maybe Next Weekend from 5/24)


Please post my comments on the blog.

Ken Brey

DNR says more revisions made to NR 115 draft

By Kurt KruegerNews-Review Editor

After a year’s time without a word, state officials claim they’ve made significant changes to the draft revision of NR 115 — the state’s shoreland zoning code.

Todd Ambs, water division administrator for the Department of Natural Resources (DNR), said the last eight months have been spent addressing the concerns of county zoning administrators and other critics who said the draft rules were too complex.

“The proposed regulations are much more streamlined and straight forward than past versions that went to public hearings,” said Ambs.

But the public — not even county zoning administrators — have seen the final draft because the DNR still doesn’t have the rules, a summary of the changes or on-the-ground application scenarios completed.

“It was on the May agenda for the Natural Resources Board but we took it off because it wasn’t finalized in time,” said Ambs.

“There would have been ridiculously little notice to the board or the public.”He said the final draft and summaries of the changes should be available late this week or early next week, well before the rules go to the board at the June 24 meeting in New Richmond.

It has been a seven-year struggle as the department attempts to strengthen the 40-year-old minimum standards for protecting shorelands and water quality.

Removing the Slow No Wake Orders...

On Wed, July 30, 2008, following the worst flood in Lake Koshkonong's history, the lake level was 778.57 and the slow no-wake orders were still in force.

Rock County did not remove the SNW until August 8th, when the lake level was 776.97.

Considering the lake district's lawsuit against the DNR has scientific evidence that the water levels mandated by the DNR should be raised to 777, the SNW orders were simply too restrictive and removing them one week earlier would have posed no risk to person or property.

Below is recent history of when the town and county removed the slow no wake -

Friday, May 23, 2008
Lake Level = 777.80
Inflow = 1,850 cfs (dropping)

Friday, Sept 27, 2007
776.72
Inflow = 1,060 cfs (dropping)

Tuesday, May 10, 2007
Lake Level = 778.02
Inflow = 2,680 cfs (dropping)

As you can see, removing the SNW has been an arbitrary call by the town chairmen, and then posted by Rock County.

Today's lake level is 778.66

With lake levels dropping 2+ inches per day, there is no harm in removing the SNW before this weekend.

778.00 to 778.3 seems to be a reasonable level to remove SNW orders.

Email me with your comments/suggestions, agreements or disagreements.

Monthly Log Sheets

Click
HERE

Filed Daily with the DNR.

Koshkonong Water Level

Lake Level -

778.66 (and dropping)

Inflow from Jefferson Dam = 3110 cfs
Outflow at Indianford = 4440 cfs

Who to Contact to Request SNW Removed

In Rock County -

Evan Sayre, Chairman
Connie Zimmerman, Town Clerk
608-868-4103

Rock County Sheriff's Office
Non-emergency
608-757-8000

Clarifying Slow No Wake Orders 2009

Previous Posts -

Rock County Sheriff is thee Authority

and here...

No-Wake Clarification

and here...

Clarifying Slow No-Wake on lake

Aqua Jays cancel more shows

Janesville Gazette

Historical Crests

2007, 2008, and 2009...
We are due for a good season of boating
________________________________

(1) 15.12 ft on 06/22/2008
(2) 12.23 ft on 04/25/1993
(3) 11.65 ft on 04/18/2008
(4) 11.49 ft on 06/05/2004

(5) 11.37 ft on 03/29/2009

(6) 11.02 ft on 06/07/2000
(7) 10.58 ft on 04/07/2007
(8) 10.46 ft on 08/30/2007

(9) 10.02 ft on 05/02/2009

(10) 9.77 ft on 04/23/1998