ABOUT BUFFALO LAKE 

Written by Karyn Niin Kitigade

I am happy to see that so many people are interested in learning about the Buffalo Lake District Water Quality Committee and want to know what they can do to improve Buffalo Lake.

One of the major concerns is the level of phosphorous in Buffalo Lake. Here's something I wrote up that will explains how you can help lower the phosphorous level.

Please let me know if you have any questions or suggestions.

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PHOSPHORUS IN BUFFALO LAKE

The Buffalo Lake Districts Water Quality Committee is testing the phosphorus level at 2 spots on the Fox River-Buffalo Lake and in 5 creeks the feed Buffalo Lake. They have received the results of the first water test they did.

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Why do we want to know the phosphorus level?

1) Phosphorus feeds and encourages the growth of lake weeds and we spend a lot of time and money attempting to control the weeds.

2) High phosphorus levels and decaying plants contribute to low dissolved oxygen levels and fish kills, as we just experienced.

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"Total phosphorus is the one nutrient that Wisconsin has a state standard for. The criterion for total phosphorus is 0.075 mg/L in streams and 0.1 mg/L in large rivers. " *

Our testing showed a phosphorus level of 0.243 mg/l at County Rd O and 0.460 mg/l at Hwy22 in Montello.

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The phosphorus level was above the state standard before the water entered Buffalo Lake and then it almost doubled by the time it reached the dam.

Are you alarmed? I hope so.

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Some of that increase is due to the phosphorus level of the streams feeding Buffalo Lake and but some of the responsibility falls on us property owners and what we are doing in our yards.

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How can you help lower the phosphorus level of Buffalo Lake, reduce the amount of lake weeds and muck, and increase the dissolved oxygen so that we don't have another fish kill?

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1) Stop using fertilizer to make your lawn grow. When it rains the fertilizer runs off into the lake, and makes the lake weeds grow.

2) Don't mow to your shoreline. A buffer strip of taller grass will slow the pollutants from yards and driveways so that they don't enter the lake. It will also help keep the geese out of your yard.

3) Plant a shoreline native plant garden to create a natural and beautiful buffer zone. You can get grant money from the state to do this.

5) Do not allow grass clippings to drop into the lake or rake leaves into the lake. Organic matter such as leaves and grass, fuel phosphorus levels.

 

We will be working with the DNR and the county to find ways to reduce the phosphorus levels in the creeks that flow into Buffalo Lake.

Let's work together. Let's make a difference.

Let's bring about a positive change for Buffalo Lake and our community.

If you have any questions about these suggested practices or the testing we are doing, email Karyn@BuffaloLakeDistrict.org

Karyn

*The information about Wisconsin phosphorous levels was found here - https://wateractionvolunteers.org/nutrient-monitoring-on-wisconsins-waters-what-does-it -all-mean