DNR official says algae levels in Rock Lake due to flooding

By Margaret Krueger of the Daily Times staff
Tuesday, August 19, 2008 12:46 PM CDT

LAKE MILLS - Susan Graham, lake management coordinator for the Department of Natural Resources, told members of the Rock Lake Improvement Association on Saturday that the large amount of algae in Rock Lake this summer is probably due to the June flooding. Run-off from flooding introduces more nutrients into the lake.

Graham, guest speaker at the RLIA annual meeting held at Lower Rock Lake County Park, said the algae makes the lake look bad but it is not usually toxic. “Don't let the water quality from algae be discouraging because it won't linger more than one or two years,” she said. She cautioned members to be careful to avoid any bluegreen algae scums that can build up, especially near shore.

She noted the water quality of Rock Lake is mesotrophic which means the water quality is generally clear and the lake has excellent fish diversity. She added that although Rock Lake has very good water quality, phosphorous reduction is needed to protect the lake from further degradation. “Most lakes I work with have more problems with algae. You have the nicest and most diverse lake in the region. You should protect the gem we have here,” she said.

She said humans are the main reason for the increased number of invasive species entering the lake. Prevention is the best way to avoid the transfer of invasive species into the lake. She listed many things people could do to keep the lake blue, including cleaning off boats, planting shoreline vegetation buffers, not using fertilizer with phosphorous, and keeping leaves, grass clippings, pet waste and oil etc. out of gutters.

RLIA President Milt Strauss said the major emphasis for the association this year has been implementing portions of the Management Plan for Rock Lake. The association is currently working on 22 of the 47 projects listed in the plan.

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RLIA is a member of the Wisconsin Association of Lakes and the Rock River Coalition. The RLIA board supported a statewide law to ban phosphorous in lawn fertilizers. The bill died in committee but hopefully it will be reintroduced in the upcoming session. The board is supporting the town of Lake Mills and Jefferson County in their plan to reconfigure the north end parking lot. Other RLIA projects include Adopt-A-Lake and annual goose count. Strauss also gave special recognition to the volunteer efforts of two deceased members, Bob Dauffenbach and Larry Everson.

Johanna Chworowsky, publicity chairwoman, said the committee is looking for a feature writer to submit articles to newspapers to increase awareness of the RLIA organization and its projects. The committee sends out a membership brochure and a newsletter each year.

Glen Zastrow, chairman of the Joint Rock Lake Committee, said the committee has been working on recommendations to the town's proposed pier ordinance, and noted that both fishermen and jet skiers would like the hours of operation reviewed.

Patricia Cicero, water resources management specialist for Jefferson County, gave an update on improvements to be made to the north end parking lot. The project, which will begin this fall, will include separate parking areas for vehicles with and without trailers; asphalt pavement, rain garden, detention pond, trees and other landscaping.

Water sampling is continuing in the channel by Cedar Lane where high bacteria counts have been detected.

Dave Walz, DNR conservation warden, said grants are funding the employment of nine individuals who are water guards at boat landings throughout the state. The water guards can issue tickets if boats are transporting invasive species.

Tom Pezzi gave an update on the Management Plan for Rock Lake. The RLIA board is working on projects such as labeling storm drains that run to the lake, Jefferson County shoreline ordinance, native plantings, studying pier ordinances, goose count, and boater safety course.

All board members were re-elected. They are Milt Strauss, Tom Pezzi, Jim Colegrove, Margaret Krueger, Johanna Chworowsky, Larry Clark, Scott Johnson, Ron Niedfeldt, Stan Smoniewski and Russ Wagner.

Officers re-elected to serve the organization for the upcoming year are Strauss, president; Pezzi, vice president; Colegrove, treasurer; and Krueger, secretary.

The RLIA meets the second Tuesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at the Lake Mills Municipal Building. All members are welcome to attend. More information can be found on the Web site www.rocklake.org.