Lake Levels In Northwestern Wisconsin Rise Following Years Of Drought

Lake levels in northwestern Wisconsin are recovering from an extended drought thanks to heavy snowmelt and a very wet spring and summer.

Lake levels in the region had been declining since 2003, according to the Department of Natural Resources. This year’s deep snow and repeated rains, however, are bringing them back up.

Fred Blake, a member of the Washburn County Lakes and Rivers Association, has been tracking water levels on his small, unnamed lake for 15 years. He said that by 2007 it had dropped 8 feet from the high water mark, but now it’s coming back up.

“We’re probably up 3 feet now from where we were when the runoff started this spring,” said Blake.

Blake’s is what is known as a seepage lake, meaning there aren’t any inlets or outlets. DNR Fish Team Supervisor Terry Mergenau said those are still recovering from the drought, but that drainage lakes, which have water flowing into them, have filled up fast.

“As everybody knows in this area, our streams are flowing quite well right now,” said Mergenau. “Those are really being recharged at a nice rate.”

Margenau said lake levels have risen enough to submerge grasses and even trees that were growing on exposed lakebeds, producing excellent spawning habitat for some fish.

With up to 16 inches more water than normal, biologists at the Crex Meadows Wildlife Area near Grantsburg have been busy. Bob Hanson said they usually spend a few weeks in spring working on dams to keep water levels steady in the wetland.

“And this spring we’ve been basically doing it for two and a half, almost three months here,” said Hanson. “So it’s been a substantial change in what we do.”

Hanson says the extra water has changed the look of Crex Medows but the wildlife — the waterfowl especially — don’t seem to mind.