Extreme Makeover - Lake Tomah Edition

Lake Tomah is on its way to becoming a healthy fishery.

A project now unfolding on Tomah's namesake lake aims to transform it from a carp-infested, algae-choked waterbody into a community asset with clean water, healthy plants that can help keep it that way, and good fishing.

News Release: Lake Tomah carp removal project aims at improved fishery, lake habitat (10/20/09)

• Reclaiming Lake Tomah [VIDEO Length 7:12]

The project partners include the City of Tomah, its Tomah Lake Committee, DNR, the Monroe County Land Conservation Department, and individual citizens and fishing club members. A U.S. Environmental Protection Agency grant funded the chemical treatment and a DNR Lake Protection grant will pay for shoreline habitat restoration work.

Background

• Lake Tomah Management Plan [exit DNR]
• Lake Tomah Environmental Assessment [PDF 1.18MB]

Efforts to Reduce Runoff

Monroe County conservation staff have worked hard with farmers to reduce erosion and runoff from their fields to keep soil, fertilizer and manure from entering Lake Tomah. Most recently, workshops helped farmers develop plans guiding when, where and how much manure and commercial fertilizer to apply to meet crop needs while reducing the excess that can wash into the lake. As a result of these Nutrient Management Plans, farmers will save an estimated $60 an acre in fertilizer costs and Lake Tomah will have less algae-fueling phosphorus.

• Map of nutrient management plans produced by farmers. [PDF 5.81MB]
• Little Lemonweir River Watershed

History

• Lake Tomah drawdown and restoration to begin September 8 - (08/05/09)
• Bag, size and possession limits lifted from Lake Tomah - (02/12/09)
• City officials envision new life for carp infested Lake Tomah - (01/26/09)