Assessment of the Hydrology, Water Quality, and Biology of Delavan Lake
Project Number: 9KB33
Project Chief: Dale M. Robertson; Gerald L. Goddard
Project Topics: Delavan Lake, water quality
Cooperators: Delavan Lake Sanitary District
Period of Project: August 1983–Continuing
Problem
Eutrophication of Delavan Lake accelerated from the 1940s to 1980s, resulting in a hypereutrophic lake with severe blue-green algae blooms. Extensive rehabilitation efforts were implemented from 1990–1993 to improve the lake’s water quality. Monitoring of the lake and nutrient and sediment loads to the lake is continuing to determine the effectiveness of rehabilitation efforts and guide future management decisions.
Objectives
The objectives of this project are to: (1) quantify the effectiveness of rehabilitation efforts by measuring nutrient and suspended sediment loads at Jackson Creek tributary near Elkhorn, Jackson Creek at Mound Road (wetland outlet), Delavan Lake Inlet at Highway 50, and at the lake’s outlet, (2) measure water quality, and plankton populations in the lake, and (3) determine the trapping efficiency of the upstream wetlands for phosphorus and suspended sediment.
Approach
Nutrients, suspended sediments, and streamflow are monitored at Jackson Creek tributary, the wetland outlet at Mound Road, at Highway 50, and the lake outlet. Nutrient concentrations, dissolved oxygen, water temperature, pH, specific conductance, and planktonic populations are monitored within the lake. The effectiveness of the wetland is estimated by examining changes in the morphometry of the wetland ponds and changes in phosphorus and suspended sediment export at Mound Road.
Monitoring and Data
 Delavan Lake Monitoring Map
 Water-Quality and Lake-Stage Data for Wisconsin Lakes, Water Year 2007
Web Links
Publications and Reports
 Robertson, D.M., Goddard, G.L., Helsel, D.R., and MacKinnon, K.L., 2000, Rehabilitation of Delavan Lake, Wisconsin: Lake and Reservoir Management, v. 16, no. 3, p. 155–176.
Panuska, J.C., and Robertson, D.M., 1999, Estimating phosphorus concentrations following alum treatment using apparent settling velocities: Lakes and Reservoir Management, v. 15, no. 1, p. 28–38.
Robertson, D.M., Elder, J.F., Goddard, G.L., and James, W.F., 1998, Dynamics in phosphorus retention in wetlands upstream of Delavan Lake, Wisconsin: Lakes and Reservoir Management, v. 14, no. 4, p. 466–477.
Elder, J.F., Manion, B.J., and Goddard, G.L., 1997, Mesocosm experiments to assess factors affecting phosphorus retention and release in an extended Wisconsin wetland: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 97–4272, 14 p.
Goddard, G.L., and Elder, J.F., 1997, Retention of sediments and nutrients in Jackson Creek Wetland near Delavan Lake, Wisconsin, 1993–95, U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 97–4014, 22 p.
Elder, J.F., and Goddard, G.L., 1996, Sediment and nutrient trapping efficiency of a constructed wetland near Delavan Lake, Wisconsin, 1993–1995: U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet FS 232–96.
Robertson, D.M., Field, S.J., Elder, J.F., Goddard, G.L., and James, W.F., 1996, Phosphorus dynamics of Delavan Lake inlet in southeastern Wisconsin: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 96–4160, 18 p.
Field, S.J., and Duerk, M.D., 1988, Hydrology and water quality of Delavan Lake in southeastern Wisconsin: U.S. Geological Survey Water-Resources Investigations Report 87–4168, 61 p.
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