Lake Mendota and Other
Yahara Lakes
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|
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History
|
Year |
Importance |
|
15,000 B.C. |
Madison area under 300m of glacial ice |
|
10,000 B.C. |
Glacial ice gone from Madison; Lake Mendota twice present size |
|
3,000 B.C. |
American Indian population flourishing |
|
1,000 B.C. |
First signs of Indian mounds |
|
1800 |
First Euopean settler |
|
1836 |
Madison becomes territorial capital |
|
1848 |
Wisconsin becomes 30th state; Madison population 300 |
|
1849 |
First UW class for 17 students; Tenney Locks constructed |
|
1855 |
Beginning of Lake Mendota and Lake Monona ice records |
|
1877 |
First limnological studies (E.A. Birge) |
|
1882 |
First noxious algae growth documented (Madison population 12,000) |
|
1890 |
Carp introduced |
|
1900 |
First limnology class taught at University by C. Juday |
|
1920 |
Madison population 35,000 |
|
1928 |
Sewage diverted around Lake Monona |
|
1940 |
Madison population 67,000 |
|
1958 |
Madison sewage diverted around Lakes Monona, Waubesa & Kegonsa |
|
1960's |
Eurasian watermilfoil invades Madison Lakes |
|
1963 |
Limnology Lab constructed with funds obtained by A.D. Hasler from the National Science Foundation |
|
1971 |
Waunakee & DeForest sewage diverted around Lake Mendota |
|
1985 |
Madison population 173,000 |
|
1987 |
Lake Mendota Biotic Manipulation Program begins |
|
1994 |
Lake Mendota Priority Lake Project begins |
Ice Cover
|
|
Mendota |
Monona |
Wingra |
|
Average days/yr |
105
|
105
|
120 |
|
Maximum |
161 |
160 |
164 |
|
Minimum |
47
|
47
|
70 |
|
Average Freeze Date |
20 Dec |
15 Dec |
27 Nov |
|
Latest |
30 Jan, 1932 |
30 Jan, 1932 |
29 Dec, 1877 |
|
Earliest |
23 Nov, 1880 |
22 Nov, 1880 |
2 Nov, 1913 |
|
Average Break Up Date |
4 Apr
|
31 Mar
|
29 Mar |
|
Latest |
6 May, 1857 |
4 May, 1857 |
29 Apr, 1881 |
|
Earliest |
27 Feb, 1998
|
27 Feb, 1998
|
2 Mar, 1882 |