Cooperator: Jackson County
Project Chief: Dale M. Robertson
Location: Jackson County
Project Number: 9KB32
Period of Project: October 2002–September 2004
 Problem
Because Wazee Lake is only about 20 years old, it is undergoing the very early stages in its aging process. Some intermittent measurements of the lake’s water quality have been made in recent years and changes have been observed. One change is that the lake has gone from being dimictic, a lake with complete mixing during spring and fall, to being meromictic, or a lake with a monimolimnion (a lower zone which does not mix with the primary mass of lake water). A program of systematic water-quality monitoring is needed to document changes, to allow for early detection of undesirable changes, and to aid in making management decisions.
Because Wazee Lake is such a valuable and unique resource to Jackson County, the region, and the State of Wisconsin, the County wants to manage and develop the lake and surrounding park for public use in ways that avoid damaging the quality of the lake. The primary reason for the proposed monitoring of Wazee Lake is to build on the lake’s water-quality data base.
Objective
The goals of the proposed program are to (1) determine the current water quality and trophic status of the lake, (2) begin evaluating the impact of the beach area on the water quality of the lake, and (3) build a quantitative database so that improving or worsening changes or trends that might occur in the future can be detected quickly and evaluated objectively.
Approach
Measurements and analyses will be made at the deepest location in the lake to characterize the trophic status (degree of nutrient enrichment) of the lake, the chemical composition of the water, and the temperature and dissolved oxygen distribution within the lake. Profiles (from surface to bottom) of temperature, specific conductance, pH, dissolved oxygen, and turbidity will be measured during each of seven sampling visits during the year. These data will define the nature of stratification and mixing during the year. Sampling for chemical characterization of the water will be done at spring turnover when the water above the monimolimnion is uniformly mixed.
Progress (July 2003–June 2004)
Lake sampling, water level measurements, and beach sampling was completed. Lake data were compiled and published in the report, “Water-Quality and Lake-Stage Data for Wisconsin Lakes, Water Year 2003.”
Plans (July 2004–June 2005)
Begin development of a future study to define and quantify lake/ground-water interactions and define the recharge area for ground water entering the lake.
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