Late Season Boating on the Yahara Chain of Lakes

October 14, 2008
Contact: Darren Marsh (608) 224-3766
Land & Water Resources

Boaters are urged to use caution when boating in the late season. “County Lake Management staff will begin removing navigational buoys starting later this week,” stated Parks Director Darren Marsh. According to Marsh, preparation for winter begins around mid-October of each year, beginning with the removal of navigational buoys from area waters. Depending on the weather, this process generally takes several weeks, concluding in early to mid-November. Staff will post Lake Access Sites as the buoys are removed. Boaters are also reminded that water levels in the Yahara Chain of Lakes are lowered beginning November 1 and remain low during the winter to help reduce ice damage along shorelines. This means that waters that may have been fine for boating earlier in the year, especially this summer with the high water levels, will be shallower, limiting navigation. Boaters that leave their boats in the water or on shore stations may want to make arrangements for removing boats prior to November 1. Marsh noted that the County’s Tenney Lock, located on the Yahara River between Lakes Mendota and Monona, will continue to be available on weekends between 12:00 Noon and 6:00 PM, until October 26, 2008, the last day of the season. There are two boater accessible County Sanitary Dump Stations that will remain open through October or as long as the temperatures remain above freezing. These are the Madison Metropolitan Sewer Districts sponsored station, located on the Yahara River adjacent to the Four Lakes Yacht Club just south of Bridge Street in City of Monona, and the Tenney Station, located upriver of the Tenney Lock on Lake Mendota adjacent to the breakwall. For more information on areas waters and County services, please contact the Parks office at 246-3896 or visit the Parks website at www.countyofdane.com/lwrd/parks/.