Lake Koshkonong
Encyclopedia
Lake Koshkonong is a reservoir
in southern Wisconsin
. It lies along the Rock River
, 5.5 mi (8.9 km). down-river from Fort Atkinson
, primarily in southwestern Jefferson County
, although small portions of the lake extend into southeastern Dane
and northern Rock counties
.
Lake Koshkonong shares its name with Fort Koshkonong
, a fort of some importance during the Black Hawk War
. It is a natural lake, and at the time the fort was active, before the Rock River was dammed, the area was actually a cattail marsh
with the Rock River running through the middle. The Indianford Dam several miles down the Rock River from Lake Koshkonong makes it one of the larger lakes in the state of Wisconsin (10,500 acres) but it remains very shallow with an average depth of six feet.
The lake borders on its east the town of Koshkonong
, and on its north, Sumner
.
station. Wisconsin Electric Power Co., Wisconsin Power and Light Co., Madison Gas and Electric Co and Wisconsin Public Service Corp jointly proposed the project. In 1974, it was estimated that the utilities would lose $40 million if the two unit, 900 MW each, facility was not approved. At that time, the timetable had already slipped to a 1983/1984 commissioning. The plan met with heavy resistance from environmental groups and was eventually killed in 1977 by concerns regarding the Lake's shallow depth during drought conditions. Attempts were made to salvage the $40 million dollar investment by moving facility to Haven, Wisconsin
, near Sheboygan, Wisconsin
. However, any plans for construction of a nuclear station in Wisconsin were scrapped by the Three Mile Island accident
. The plant was planned to be built on Vickerman Road, east of the lake and east of Wisconsin Highway 26.(42°51′37"N 88°53′27"W)
Reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
in southern Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. It lies along the Rock River
Rock River (Illinois)
The Rock River is a tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately long, in the U.S. states of Wisconsin and Illinois. It rises in southeast Wisconsin, in the Theresa Marsh near Theresa, Wisconsin in northeast Dodge County, Wisconsin approximately south of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin...
, 5.5 mi (8.9 km). down-river from Fort Atkinson
Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin
Fort Atkinson is a city in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, United States. It is located on the Rock River, a few miles upstream from Lake Koshkonong. In 1996, Money Magazine named Fort Atkinson "One of America's Hottest Little Boomtowns." The population was 11,621 at the 2000 census.- History :Fort...
, primarily in southwestern Jefferson County
Jefferson County, Wisconsin
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 74,021. Its county seat is Jefferson.-Geography:According to the U.S...
, although small portions of the lake extend into southeastern Dane
Dane County, Wisconsin
As of the census of 2000, there were 426,526 people, 173,484 households, and 100,794 families residing in the county. The population density was 355 people per square mile . There were 180,398 housing units at an average density of 150 per square mile...
and northern Rock counties
Rock County, Wisconsin
-Unincorporated communities:-Further reading:* . Chicago: Western Historical Company, 1879.* Brown, William F. , Chicago: Cooper, 1908.* Brown, William F. , Chicago: Cooper, 1908....
.
Lake Koshkonong shares its name with Fort Koshkonong
Fort Koshkonong
Fort Koshkonong was located at a site which today is in the city of Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin, about three blocks east of Main St. along Milwaukee Ave. General Henry Atkinson was the commander of the fort during the Black Hawk War. It was used as a station for local militia units and the US...
, a fort of some importance during the Black Hawk War
Black Hawk War
The Black Hawk War was a brief conflict fought in 1832 between the United States and Native Americans headed by Black Hawk, a Sauk leader. The war erupted soon after Black Hawk and a group of Sauks, Meskwakis, and Kickapoos known as the "British Band" crossed the Mississippi River into the U.S....
. It is a natural lake, and at the time the fort was active, before the Rock River was dammed, the area was actually a cattail marsh
Marsh
In geography, a marsh, or morass, is a type of wetland that is subject to frequent or continuous flood. Typically the water is shallow and features grasses, rushes, reeds, typhas, sedges, other herbaceous plants, and moss....
with the Rock River running through the middle. The Indianford Dam several miles down the Rock River from Lake Koshkonong makes it one of the larger lakes in the state of Wisconsin (10,500 acres) but it remains very shallow with an average depth of six feet.
The lake borders on its east the town of Koshkonong
Koshkonong, Wisconsin
Koshkonong is a town in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 3,395 at the 2000 census. The town entirely surrounds the city of Fort Atkinson. The unincorporated communities of Blackhawk Island, Koshkonong Mounds, and Vinnie Ha Ha are located in the town...
, and on its north, Sumner
Sumner, Jefferson County, Wisconsin
Sumner is a town in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 904 at the 2000 census. The unincorporated communities of Busseyville, Carcajou, Koshkonong Manor, and North Shore are located within the town.-Geography:...
.
Proposed nuclear power plant
In the 1970s, Lake Koshkonong was the primary site considered for a billion dollar nuclear powerNuclear power
Nuclear power is the use of sustained nuclear fission to generate heat and electricity. Nuclear power plants provide about 6% of the world's energy and 13–14% of the world's electricity, with the U.S., France, and Japan together accounting for about 50% of nuclear generated electricity...
station. Wisconsin Electric Power Co., Wisconsin Power and Light Co., Madison Gas and Electric Co and Wisconsin Public Service Corp jointly proposed the project. In 1974, it was estimated that the utilities would lose $40 million if the two unit, 900 MW each, facility was not approved. At that time, the timetable had already slipped to a 1983/1984 commissioning. The plan met with heavy resistance from environmental groups and was eventually killed in 1977 by concerns regarding the Lake's shallow depth during drought conditions. Attempts were made to salvage the $40 million dollar investment by moving facility to Haven, Wisconsin
Haven, Wisconsin
Haven is an unincorporated community in the town of Mosel in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, United States.-History:A military camp called Camp Haven was named after the community. It was located in Haven on of rented land. The camp operated from 1949 until November 16, 1959. as an anti-aircraft...
, near Sheboygan, Wisconsin
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
-Airport:Sheboygan is served by the Sheboygan County Memorial Airport, which is located several miles from the city.-Roads:Interstate 43 is the primary north-south transportation route into Sheboygan, and forms the west boundary of the city. U.S...
. However, any plans for construction of a nuclear station in Wisconsin were scrapped by the Three Mile Island accident
Three Mile Island accident
The Three Mile Island accident was a core meltdown in Unit 2 of the Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania near Harrisburg, United States in 1979....
. The plant was planned to be built on Vickerman Road, east of the lake and east of Wisconsin Highway 26.(42°51′37"N 88°53′27"W)
External links
- Rock Koshkonong Lake District
- Lake Koshkonong data and Geographic Names Information System report from the USGSUnited States Geological SurveyThe United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
- Lake Koshkonong Wetland Association
- Historical tidbits about the Lake from the Janesville Gazette
- Koshkonong - The Lake We Live On