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Posts: 1460
Location: Kronenwetter, WI | I have noticed in Oneida/Vilas Counties that some lakes are really hurting on water levels while others are just fine. I know some lakes are subject to draw-down but there are some that are NOT connected to a flowage that are just about ruined because the water is so low. At the same time there are other lakes that are just fine. Wondering why this would be---I'm guessing that those lakes that are spring-fed simply suffer less during this multi-year drought period? |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | Yup |
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Posts: 4080
Location: Elko - Lake Vermilion | Looks like a little rain is headed your way. |
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Posts: 238
Location: Rhinelander | Actually it is our seepage lakes that are being so drastically affected. Main reason is lack of rain/snow but also a slight increase in average tempture in the northwoods causing more evaporation.
What is alarming, the whole water table that is low, hence the seepage lakes taking the brunt of the low water levels. If a lake doesn't have an additional water inlet, it soley relies upon rain and/or snow to "fill" the lake. Basic idea is the ground water is slowly droping to a lower elevation from ground level.
We may soon have a problem with wells going "dry" in that not to distant future..........
Edited by Hodag Hunter 4/7/2010 10:09 PM
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Posts: 11
| I have seen the same thing in the Polk county area. Some lakes look perfect, but others are way down. Alot has to due with no snow or rain in March. But the last couple of years, unlike the Madison area with lots of snow, we didn't get anything. That's a big problem. Another thought is... As more and more homes are being built around the lakes in this area. They are making more wells, taking more water from the ground. Could that have an effect on the lakes water table? |
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Posts: 1460
Location: Kronenwetter, WI | What's interesting is that the rainbow is subject to draw down and has been in rough shape recently. Now, Big St. feeds into that system and has seen SOME low water issues but not real bad, perhaps because there are some springs feeding BSG. Lost Lake feeds into Big St. but is just fine, but then it also is spring fed. |
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Posts: 4343
Location: Smith Creek | Top H2O - 4/7/2010 9:42 PM
Looks like a little rain is headed your way.
Weatherman's just trying to get our hopes up. They call for 2 inches and we get 1/4" or the system splits and goes north and south of us, or it evaporates before it hits the ground.
If this keeps up they'll be calling the Northwoods the Northern Desert. |
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Posts: 13688
Location: minocqua, wi. | the local forecasters here are trying to get a handle on forecasting daytime and night-time ... rain is a little advanced for these folks |
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Posts: 2089
| I'll have to admit, watching the news from Rhinelander was often comical. No news on Christmas?????Huh? |
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Posts: 65
| Why some lakes are down more than others can be a complicated answer. The responses above are all true but not the whole story. Rest assured that virtually every single lake in Wisconsin is technically "spring fed" because of the state's geology (sand, gravel, fractured bedrock). They may not all have gushers and visible/noticeable springs, but they are all reflection of the local ground water table and are therefore 'fed' by it (seepage). But some groundwater "pockets" can be smaller, isolated units that are not as extensive or voluminous and are therefore subject to wider fluctuations due to recent weather - and the lakes connected to these pockets likewise. These lakes and aquifers are actually "perched" above the larger, regional aquifer system because they sit on a water tight layer of clay (usually). Lakes connected to the main regional aquifer fluctuate less during periods of precipitation extremes. What type of groundwater system is present is dependent on the location- which can be highly variable even within close proximities in glaciated landscapes like Wisconsin.
Human causes of lake level decline are possible in developed areas/lakefronts. Especially if there is a lot of irrigation of lawns, or golf courses, or whatever going on. Otherwise if the water use is just for domestic/plumbing, then almost all of that water is really going back into the ground if septic systems are in place. If the lakefront is sewered, then you have to look to see where the treated wasterwater is discharged to see if its really being lost to the groundwater system.
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Posts: 619
| it looks like white bear lake is going to dry up soon when i drove by last week |
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Location: SE Wisconsin | It's too bad to see lakes in this condition - going down - and yet, many home/cottage owners on the shores of these lakes continue to have effervescent green lawns fed by sprinklers...fed by the lake water:(
Our cottage on Carpenter Lake near Eagle River has gone down so significantly, we had to add an additional 20 feet to the pier. The max depth is (was) 17 feet - please send back the rains we used to have. 10 years ago, when it would rain, it would storm! Those rains would last days. . . I pray that this drought ends soon! |
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