On November 1, 2007, Certified Surveyors from Grothman & Associates took readings of the water levels at various points on Buffalo Lake. Survey points were at the dam, the causeway (County Hwy D) and at Chapman Creek (County Hwy CX). At the February 16, 2008 Lake District Meeting, a presentation covering the results of the survey was given by Water Committee members John Hunter and Valerie Stabenow. Click to see pictures from the November 1 survey day. 1 2 3 4

Click here for Feb.16 Water Level Committee Presentation

On Wednesday, May 9th the new harvester was delivered from Canada! It was supposed to be delivered at 8:00 a.m., but it took the trucker 8 hours to get through customs. It arrived in Packwaukee at about 4:00 p.m. We had a crane lined up to get it off the truck and on to the trailer. The cost was $106,750.00, of which $42,000 came from a grant from DNR, $51,000 from the increase in special charges to the residents, and the remainder from the general fund. If money is needed to run the general fund, we have a loan approved, and we will only borrow this money if needed. Click to see pictures of the new harvester.1 2 3 4 5 6

About Buffalo Lake

Marquette County has 90 lakes. Buffalo Lake has about 50% of the water surface area. It was a natural lake formed by a downstream deposit of sediment in 1871. The level of the natural basin was increased by four feet. The Army Corps of Engineers constructed a low head dam under authorization of the River and Harbor Act of 1958, the Federal Government turned over control of the upper Fox River above the mouth of the Wolf River to the State of Wisconsin in June 1962.

Physical Data of Buffalo Lake

  • Acres = 2500
  • Mean Depth = 4.5 ft
  • Maximum Depth = 8ft
  • Length= 13.1 miles
  • Width 1/2 mile
  • Shore Length = 32.2 miles
  • Watershed area = 600 sq. miles
  • Normal outflow 12 days from the time water enters Buffalo Lake to the time it goes over the dam at Montello.
  • Buffalo Lake was named for the buffalo grass growing around the lake.

Lake Protection and Rehabilitation

On December 31, 1986, petitions were filed with the Marquette County Clerk requesting the establishment of a public inland lake protection and rehabilitation district in the Townships of Montello and Packwaukee, and the City of Montello. The petitions were accompanied by a map and description of the proposed boundaries.
Notice of a public hearing was published in the Marquette County Tribune on January 8, 1987, and mailed to the landowners within boundaries of the proposed district.The public hearing was held before the Marquette County Zoning and Planning Committee on January 29, 1987.
Buffalo Lake Protection and Rehabilitation was then declared organized and established.


Website designed and created by Chris Doudna.
Site last updated on 3/14/2008 by Valerie Stabenow.
© 2006