The Waters of Dane County
Dane County is blessed with
37 lakes, 475 miles of streams and rivers and 14 miles of
the Wisconsin River. These waters are part of what make
this area so special. Water-related recreation activities
contribute substantially to the region's economy, with lake
users spending an average of $15.00 -$22.00 on each outing
for fuel and supplies alone, according to a 1995 study.
Water resources contribute to business, industry and agriculture
as well. We use 42 million gallons of water a day for business
and personal purposes.
Lake Mendota
Lake Mendota is the largest and the
deepest of the Yahara Chain of Lakes, with 21 miles of
shorelines and a volume of 126 billion gallons of water,
this lake occupies 9,847 acres. It's 83 feet at its deepest
point and has an average depth of 41 feet. Lake Mendota
is frozen an average of 119 days a year, freezing over
around December 20 and breaking up by the 5th
of April. The Winnebago, who lived here when Europeans
arrived, called this lake "wonk-sheck-ho-mik-la,"
meaning "where the Indian lies," based on an
old Native American tale of love and transformation. In
1854, at the request of then-governor Leonard Farwell,
the lakes were given pleasant-sounding Chippewa names
to attract development. That's when Mendota got its current
name, which means "large" or "great"
in Chippewa. Sixty-four percent of Lake Mendota's shoreline
is owned by municipalities, the state and the University
of Wisconsin-Madison. Lake Mendota is the 5th
most popular lake for recreational boating in Wisconsin.
Lake Monona
Lake Monona has 13 miles of shoreline
and a volume of 28 billion gallons. At 3,274 acres, it's
less than half the size of Lake Mendota. Its deepest point
is 74 feet and its average depth is 25 feet. Lake Monona
is frozen an average of 107 days a year, with the ice
usually coming on by December 15th and breaking
up by April Fool's Day. The Winnebago called Monona "Tchee-ho-bo-kee-xa-te-la."
or "Teepee Lake." Monona, its Chippewa name,
is believed to mean "beautiful." Forty percent
of Monona's shoreline is publicly owned and it is the
9th most popular lake for recreational boating
in Wisconsin.
Lake Waubesa
Lake Waubesa has 8.6 miles of shoreline,
a volume of 10 billion gallons and occupies a total of
2,050 acres. Its average depth is 14 feet and its
deepest point is 34 feet. It got its name, which is Chippewa
or Ottawa for swan, when a settler killed an unusually
large swan in the area.
Lake Kegonsa
Lake Kegonsa has an average depth of
14 feet and a maximum depth of31 feet. It has 9.4 miles
of shoreline, a volume of 15 billion gallons and is 3,140
acres. It was thought to be a good fishing area, so its
new name was taken from the Chippewa word for fish - "ke-go-e."
Its previous name was "na-sa-koo-cha-te-la,"
which means "hard maple grove lake."
Fish Lake
Fish Lake is found in the far northwestern
corner of Dane County. A Dane County Park on the lake
can be reached via USH 12, north on CTH KP, right on CTH
Y, left on Mack Road and right on Fish Lake Road. The
lake is 252 acres in size with a depth of 62 feet and
contains Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass and pan fish.
Boats using gas motors are not allowed on Fish Lake.
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