For more than a week extreme weather conditions have fueled algal growth. I'm starting to sound like a broken record. Lake Puckaway is certainly not alone, dozens of other lakes in Wisconsin are experiencing the same thing. The weather and its complications have stressed fish too. I'm waiting to hear more from the DNR on that situation.
I got up to my house Friday a.m. to greeted to a lake full of dead Northerns. I personally picked up 14 in my 100ft of shoreline and had 10 more on Saturday. I understand its an oxygen issue due to the heat but I'd be curious your opinion if there were a foot more water in the lake if this would have happened.
ReplyDeleteThere was a similar die-off on Partridge Lake, the Wolf River and Lake Poygan. Word from the DNR is that it heat stress was the likely cause, but the fish were too decayed to test.
ReplyDeleteI don't think another foot of water would have made much difference. The lake is so shallow and the weather so severe it would have heated up about the same. Even in its pristine state of say 1812 this might have happened. Unfortunately the extended forecast rises into the 100's again.
lake puckaway protection district!!!!!! REALLY? The delaying of putting the boards on absolutely contributed to this disaster.Lowering water levels to promote weed growth is destroying the lake. this coupled with the fish kill while removing carp will take a decade to recover.Property owners should send thier tax bills to the lake assocation.Is there anyone on the assocation that has a clue what they're doing?
DeleteI'd like to see 5 years of high water by adding another 12" of boards to see the effect on the weeds. It would be a good comparison to everyones theory that low water is best for this lake. Im thinking another foot of water would have created a cool pocket in the west basin that the Northerns would have refuged too. I was in the lake on Friday swimming off my boat about 500 yards from the Log Cabin and it was 90deg. I couldn't find deeper water than 5 ft on the S. Shore and I think 6ft of water is cooler than 5ft of water.
ReplyDeleteRegarding the first comment; water levels have yet to be maintained low in spring under the current agreement. The main reason for this is because we have had high water most of the recent springs. Boards have been placed on the dam as soon as possible after the water level is physically low enough to allow placement. This is a function of the type of dam at Princeton. In past years that could have been in May, but recently it has been June. Board delay can’t be destroying the lake because it has never happened under the current agreement.
ReplyDeleteFor the second commenter; another extra foot of water would be cooler, but not appreciably so during this extreme event. Also flow from the Fox River is slow low this summer that additional boards would not likely raise the lake much. This year 18” of boards probably did not raise the lake, mostly I believe it slowed the decline in water level for a short time.
Lake Puckaway Gauge Height
6/8/2012 - 1.9 ft
6/12/2012 18” boards on
6/15/2012 - 1.4 ft
There are several problems high water and aquatic plants, but the most important are sunlight and fluctuating levels. Most species of submerged plants on Lake Puckaway can grow to depths past ten feet in very clear water. In Puckaway’s condition 3 feet is difficult. If the lake were to clear, plants would be able to tolerate deeper water. However many aquatic plants especially bulrushes require low water, or even no water to reproduce. Under natural waterlevels this occurs late summer or during droughts.
The idea behind delaying the boards two out of five years is to provide a period of time early in the season for plant establishment and expansion with the least possible negative effects on navigation and recreation, but Mother Nature has not allowed us to give it a try.
I appreciate all constructive comments, questions and opinions whether I agree or not.
Thank you
I don't understand . weather this was mother nature or a man made disaster the results are the same .Your goal is keeping water levels low and now you have it . Still look like a good idea? by your defination we should have weed growth like never before but paid a hell of a price for it ! Also watched water levels everyday and if boards were installed on june 11th or 12th NO way was this the first oppertunity to do so,weather it was planned or not.other comment has a point between this and fish kill from carp removal are we helping or hurting this lake?
DeleteIs the water safe for family to swim in right now if you go up the river?
ReplyDeleteI wish I could give a definitive answer about swimming, but we do not test the water for harmful bacteria or blue green algae. All I can saw is there is much less algae upriver.
ReplyDeleteMore information on blue green algae:
http://dnr.wi.gov/lakes/bluegreenalgae/Default.aspx
I'm not sure what is low water to you. Everyone has their own idea as to what water level is just right. The goal of the district is to manage summer levels by placing 18 inches of boards on the Princeton Dam. With normal conditions this may be fine for some, low for others, or high. Recent lake levels are not the goal of the district.
ReplyDeleteAre we hurting the lake? In my opinion nothing could have prevented the fish kill. Partridge Lake is unaffected by dams, and it experienced the same die off of northern pike. The botched carp removal several years ago was most unfortunate. It is another complicated issue, and since I was not here at the time I won't comment further. The 2011/2012 carp removal was very successful, and as it continues will help the fishery, habitat, and water quality. The district stocks walleye from its hatchery every year, adding more fish for fisherman to catch. Yes, the district's activities are helping the lake.
Hey Andrew - First, I appreciate the blog and your effort on this lake. Keep the information flowing.
ReplyDeleteI don't agree with keeping it shallow is best but Im not a biologist so Im not really qualified from a scientific view to make an opinion. Just observation about carp, wave action creating more sediment has me thinking the low water is not best.
To the guy asking about swimming. I had guests up last weekend and 8 of us were in the lake on Friday swimming on the N. Shore. No one got swimmers itch or ear issues etc.
However, Saturday we made the decision "no swimming" in the lake due to all the dead fish. Hate to say it but I wouldn't be swimming in there right now until we get some rain.
I'll keep the information flowing. I'll be doing another round of sampling next week. Weather and heat index permitting I'll have it up Wednesday. Thank you for your comments.
ReplyDelete