LAKE INFO

Lake Mendota
Surface Area: 3,985 ha
Max Depth: 25.3 m
Mean Depth: 12.7 m

Lake Monona
Surface Area: 1,326 ha
Max Depth: 22.6 m
Mean Depth: 8.3 m
Lake Waubesa
Surface Area: 843 ha
Max Depth: 11.6 m
Mean Depth: 4.7 m
Lake Kegonsa
Surface Area: 1,299 ha
Max Depth: 9.8 m
Mean Depth: 5.1 m

Partnership

EFM

City of Madison

Dane County

WDNR

LTER

NSF

 

Olin - Lake Monona

ADDRESS:
1155 E. Lakeside St, Madison
DIRECTIONS:
In Olin Park near boat launch
DESCRIPTION:
Olin Beach is a neighborhood beach located on land purchased in 1912 for use as a park. Originally called Monona Park, it officially opened in 1919 (it was renamed in 1923). Today Parks Dept. staff maintains a "managed meadow" at the park in an effort to improve the health of old oak trees that were suffering from lack of water and nutrients from the out-competing turf grass. Soil compaction and frequent mowing that prevented the natural regeneration of the oaks were also compromising the trees. The areas were seeded with a native plant mix and are now mowed just once a year.

The beach is located approximately 400 feet southeast of the Wingra Creek outfall and 250 feet southeast of a popular boat landing and parking lot. It is about 100 feet long and 12 feet wide, with an 8.8% slope. Geese are frequently an issue at this beach, as is stormwater runoff from the surrounding mowed turf areas.

Between 2005 and 2009, the beach was closed 8 times (17 days) for high levels of blue green algae, and 8 times (40 days) for high levels of bacteria. It is currently listed on the EPA's 303(d) list of impaired beaches for high bacteria levels.

Note that all Lake Monona beaches were closed for a week in 2008 due to a raw sewage release from an MMSD pumping station.

In July 1999, sewage problems at the Henry Vilas Zoo (2 miles upstream) caused Olin beach to close due to high bacteria levels. Health Dept. staff discovered high levels of fecal coliform at the 30-inch storm outlet along Wingra Creek that drains the south part of the zoo. The source was sewer blockage in a by-pass chamber that diverts contaminated storm water to a holding tank, which is pumped into a sanitary sewer over a period of time to even out the flow during peak rainfall. The blockage was removed and a new maintenance plan was put immediately into place to prevent a recurrence.

WATER QUALITY MONITORING:
PHMDC
Olin Beach

Olin Beach
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More information is available on the Public Health, Madison & Dane County website