Rush Lake

A Restoration in Progress

Rush Lake is a 3,070-acre prairie pothole marsh bounded by two low hills in southwestern Winnebago County, Wisconsin. Its size makes it the largest prairie pothole east of the Mississippi River. Historically, Rush Lake had extensive stands of native aquatic vegetation and was home to a multitude of wetland birds, including several threatened and endangered species. Some of the rare birds that nest on the Lake include Wisconsin’s largest nesting population of red-necked grebes, as well as Forster’s terns, and black-crowned night herons. The emergent vegetation community is dominated by cattails and hardstem bulrush, for which Rush Lake was named. Average water depth of Rush Lake is 1.5 feet and water levels are affected by a small dam located in the northeast corner at the lake’s outlet to Waukau Creek. View a Rush Lake Depth Contour Map.

The past 30 years witnessed a dramatic decline in the lake’s aquatic vegetation, water quality, and wildlife populations. Research has attributed these declines to artificially stable and high water levels, carp infestation, and nutrient/sediment runoff. View a comparison of Rush Lake in 1937 and 2005 [PDF 1.25MB]

In order to tackle these problems and formulate a Lake restoration plan, a steering committee was formed in 1999 including government representatives, citizens, and user groups. The 15-member committee conducted monthly meetings from 1999-2005 and completed an extensive citizen involvement process. The group developed a plan that addressed all the significant problems facing the lake and had strong public support garnered through citizen participation. This plan is now being implemented as part of a holistic lake restoration project.

Please click on the links to the left to learn more about Rush Lake!

For more information about Rush Lake, send email to: DNR Wildlife Biologist.

Questions for Wildlife Management