Lake Waubesa Management Plan Approved by the Wisconsin DNR
Lake Waubesa, one of Dane County’s largest and most popular lakes, is making strides towards a healthier future. Thanks to a $25,000 grant awarded by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) in spring 2023, the Lake Waubesa Conservation Association (LWCA) collaborated with CARPC to create a Comprehensive Lake Management Plan. After more than a year of hard work, the plan has been finalized and approved by the Wisconsin DNR.
The 2024 Lake Waubesa Management Plan centers on five ambitious goals designed to protect and restore the lake’s natural beauty and ecological health:
- Increase community engagement and build organizational capacity.
- Reduce agricultural runoff and improve water clarity.
- Manage aquatic invasive species (AIS) and prevent their spread; integrate 2024 plant management survey results into Lake Management Plan.
- Restore and protect shoreline habitat.
- Reduce urban stormwater runoff and associated pollutant load.
Guided by a steering committee with representatives from LWCA, CARPC, the Town of Dunn, the Village of McFarland, Clean Lakes Alliance, Friends of Waubesa Wetlands, and the City of Fitchburg, the planning process emphasized collaboration and scientific assessment. CARPC staff conducted a coarse woody habitat survey to analyze large woody debris along the lake, documenting its size, structure, and underwater coverage. We also assisted with shoreland habitat monitoring, including collecting data on riparian and littoral habitat, vegetation cover, human structures in the riparian buffer zone, runoff concerns, and bank erosion or modifications.
The Lake Waubesa Management Plan represents a significant collaborative effort to safeguard and enhance one of Dane County’s most treasured water resources, ensuring its vitality for future generations. Recognizing that water quality improvements require a multi-faceted approach, the plan includes recommendations tailored to different stakeholder groups. For example, LWCA can further its protection and preservation efforts by building relationships and partnering with other conservation groups and government agencies.
Landowners can improve the shoreline habitat on their properties and install landscaping that promotes stormwater infiltration. Local governments are encouraged to include green infrastructure in development and redevelopment projects, and to replace 10% of existing impervious surfaces with appropriate permeable substitutes.