• Login
    View Item 
    •   MINDS@UW Home
    • MINDS@UW Madison
    • College of Letters and Science, University of Wisconsin–Madison
    • Department of Geography
    • UW Geography Undergraduate Colloquium
    • View Item
    •   MINDS@UW Home
    • MINDS@UW Madison
    • College of Letters and Science, University of Wisconsin–Madison
    • Department of Geography
    • UW Geography Undergraduate Colloquium
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Lowering the Lakes: the Environmental, Economic and Recreational Impacts of Returning Lake Mendota to Historical Levels

    Thumbnail
    File(s)
    Colloquium Project (4.477Mb)
    Date
    2018-12-17
    Author
    Alheid, Tyler
    Colglazier, Zoey
    Smale, Mike
    Shifflet, Alex
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Abstract
    After extensive flooding in the Madison, Wisconsin area in August 2018, there have been calls by the public to permanently lower the largest body of water in the region, Lake Mendota, which has been artificially raised 5 feet by a dam, in order to prevent potential future floods. To investigate the practicality of lowering the lake, we first conducted a historical analysis of Lake Mendota’s previous water levels in order to provide contextualization of our research. We then used geospatial modeling to produce maps simulating what would happen to Mendota’s shoreline and navigable areas if the lake were lowered by 1, 2.5, or 5 feet from current average summer levels. These maps were then utilized in a series of interviews to facilitate discussion with several key stakeholders on the levels of Lake Mendota, as well as during a survey of the general public. We conclude that financial cost, navigability and accessibility, ecology, and potential effectiveness of future flood mitigation are the primary concerns in this issue, and that extensive future research and education of the public regarding the lakes is necessary before proceeding with any action.
    Subject
    Lake Mendota
    Madison
    Lake water levels
    Floods / Flooding
    Yahara River Basin
    Permanent Link
    http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1793/78969
    Description
    Includes Maps, Figures, Photographs, Graphs, Charts, Appendices and Bibliography.
    Part of
    • UW Geography Undergraduate Colloquium

    Contact Us | Send Feedback
     

     

    Browse

    All of MINDS@UWCommunities & CollectionsBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjectsThis CollectionBy Issue DateAuthorsTitlesSubjects

    My Account

    LoginRegister

    Contact Us | Send Feedback