Little Muskego Lake
Little Muskego Lake | ||
---|---|---|
Primary inflows Jewel Creek | | |
Basin countries | United States | |
Max. length | 2,092.15 m (6,864 ft) | |
Max. width | 902.96 m (2,962 ft) | |
Surface area | 470 acres (190.2 ha) | |
Average depth | 14 m (46 ft) | |
Max. depth | 65 ft (20 m) | |
Water volume | 7,170 acre⋅ft (8,844,064.8 m3) | |
Surface elevation | 244 m (801 ft) |
Little Muskego Lake is located in
Geography
Little Muskego sits atop the Troy Valley Bedrock aquifer,[1] composed primarily of sandstone with layers of glacial till and clay. The vast majority of lakes in this area were created when the Laurentide ice sheet withdrew some 10,000 years ago.[1]
Hydrology
Little Muskego is considered to be a drainage lake: most of its water comes from
History
The earliest inhabitants of Muskego were the Potawatomi. In 1827 the first Europeans arrived and within five years, the Potawatomi ceded their lands to the US Government. European expansion continued, with Norwegian settlers predominating by 1839.[5]
Water chemistry
The average pH for Little Muskego in 1999 was 7.8[6] The minimum water temperature is 0.5 degrees Celsius (32.9 F) with a maximum of 26.67 degrees Celsius (80.01 F).[3] The average Secchi depth is 1.65 meters (5.4 feet).[3] It is classified as a dimictic lake.
Pollutants
Primary pollutants include phosphorus and heavy metals. Agricultural land use currently results in about 53% of the sediment pollution and half of the phosphorus reaching the lake in surface runoff. It is estimated that 1,690 to 5,016 pounds (767 to 2,275 kilograms) of phosphorus enter the lake yearly.[2] As the areas surrounding Little Muskego continue to be transformed from wetland and agricultural use into urban environments, heavy metal pollution is expected to increase. The Muskego Wind Lakes Watershed created a plan in 1993 to lower non-point source pollutants by reducing 55% of sedimentation and 67% of phosphorus loading.[2]
Plant species
In 1994,
Invasive plant species of the lake include
Fishing and wildlife
Little Muskego thrives as a fishery and wildlife area and is best known for its bass and panfish populations—but walleye, northern pike, catfish, and other rough fish species are also present. Currently no commercial fishing is authorized although personal consumption is allowed.
Waterfowl hunting and trapping are limited to the city of Muskego: both are outlawed on the lake. Muskrats, beaver, squirrel, and cottontail rabbits are the most common animals found in riparian areas of the lake.[2] It also supports populations of mallards, wood duck, and blue-winged teal.[2]
Invasive animal species include the zebra mussel (Dreissena polymorpha).
Recreation
From 1861 to 1977, it was home to Muskego Beach Amusement Park, later known as DandiLion Park.[9] It closed in part due to competition from Six Flags Great America in Gurnee, Illinois.
Boating, swimming, fishing, and waterskiing are popular, as are cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and ice fishing in the winter. The Muskego Recreation Program holds water-related classes and recreational activities on the lake. There is a local waterskiing team called the Muskego Waterbugs.[10] The Little Muskego Lake Association was formed in 1968.[11]
References
- ^ a b "Troy Bedrock Valley Aquifer Model" (PDF).
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (February 2009). "An Aquatic Management Plan for Little Muskego Lake".
- ^ a b c "Little Muskego Lake at Muskego WI". dnr.wi.gov. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
- ^ "Drawdown FAQs".
- ^ "Muskego WI History - A Brief History". Town Square Publications. 2019-03-27. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
- ^ "Water-Quality and Lake-Stage Data for Wisconsin Lakes, Water Year 1999" (PDF). United States Geological Survey. 1999.
- ^ Moriarity, Mark (2020-09-01). "Little Muskego Lake Protection and Rehabilitation District Chairman's Message September 2020".
- ^ "Clean Boats, Clean Waters". dnr.wi.gov. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
- ^ "Muskego's DandiLion Park". muskegohistory.org. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
- ^ "Little Muskego Lake | Muskego, WI". www.cityofmuskego.org. Retrieved 2020-11-08.
- ^ "Little Muskego Lake Association". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2020-11-08.