User:Olsonpa/Little Muskego Lake, Waukesha County

Introduction[edit]
Little Muskego sits on top of what is known as the Troy Valley Bedrock aquifer. This valley sits on top of bedrock that is composed primarily of sandstone, but also contains layers of glacial till and clay. Little Muskego lake was created due to the drawback of the Laurentide ice sheet some 10000 years ago. This glacial movement is responsible for nearly all of the lakes in the Muskego area. Little Muskego currently is considered a drainage lake with a large portion of its water coming from Jewel Creek on the North end of the lake. The lake is located along a tributary stream to the Fox River. It discharges into Muskego Creek and then from there into Big Muskego Lake, Wind Lake, and the Fox River. The lake is considered to be a mesotrophic lake. Currently, The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources performs a lake drawdown during the months of September and October. This drawdown is done at no more then 4’’ increments per day with normal drawdown levels being 16’’-20’’ in depth, but may also use an extended drawdown with a drawdown of 84”. This is done in order to help with invasive plant species throughout the lake.

Plant Species[edit]
Invasive plant species of the lake include starry stonewort (Nitellopsis obtusa), and Eurasian water milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum). The lake is treated by herbicides and mechanical harvesting. Invasive species of the lake include zebra mussel.

In 1994, muskgrass (Chara vulgaris) was the dominant species in the lake. The lake also contains water celery (Valisneria americana), and multiple species of pondweed. In the 2002 plant survey, 17 plant species were found. In 2020, over 900 loads of weeds were harvested from the lake. The Lake District supports boat inspections and education to prevent the spread of invasive plants. The DNR program Clean Boats Clean Water is in affect for Little Muskego Lake.

Lake Association[edit]
The Little Muskego Lake Association was formed in 1968 to handle rehabilitation of the lake as well as to protect and serve the lake and its community.

Pollutants[edit]
Urban land usage was determined to be the only significant source of heavy metal pollutants. As the areas surrounding Little Muskego continue to turn from wetland and agricultural usage into urban environments, heavy metal pollution also will increase. Agricultural land use currently results in about 53% of the sediment pollution and half of the phosphorus reaching the lake in surface run off. It is estimated that 1690-5016 pounds of phosphorus leak into the lake yearly. The Muskego Wind Lakes Watershed created a Nonpoint Source Control Plan in 1993 which outlined strategies to lower nonpoint source pollutants entering the surface waters in the watershed. This plan set a goal to have a reduction of 55% of sediment pollution and phosphorus loading by 67%.

Early Use[edit]
The earliest inhabitants of Muskego were the Potawatomi Native Americans. The Potawatomi used the land around Little Muskego for farming practices, as well as using the lake directly as a source of fish and waterfowl. In 1827 the first European’s arrived and 5 years later the Potawatomi ceded their lands to the U.S. Government. European expansion was predominantly Norwegian, who began to flourish in the area around 1839. These early farming Europeans used Little Muskego as a source of water, entertainment, and agricultural benefits.

Fishing and Wildlife[edit]
Little Muskego continues to thrive as a fishery and wildlife area. The lake is most known for its bass and panfish population, but maintains populations of walleye, northern pike, catfish and other rough fish species. This area is monitored by the Wisconsin DNR and the fishery is managed also by the DNR. Currently no commercial fishing is authorized on the lake, although personal consumption is allowed under the current regulations. Waterfowl hunting and trapping is limited within the city of Muskego, with both being outlawed on Little Muskego. Muskrats, beaver, squirrels species, and cottontail rabbits are the most common animals that use the riparian areas of the lake. The lake also supports poulations of mallards, wood duck, and blue-winged teal. Species of waterfowl and birds change with migration patterns.

Recreation[edit]
The lake supports boating, swimming, fishing, and waterskiing. It also supports cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, and ice-fishing during winter months. It is a multi-purpose lake used for many different activities. At one point the lake supported Muskego Beach Amusement Park, later known as DandiLion Park from 1861 to 1977. The park was demolished when attendance dropped due to an amusement park opening in Gurnee Mills, Illinois. The Muskego Recreation Program holds water-related classes and recreational activities on the lake. The lake also has a water skiing team called the Muskego Waterbugs.