Lake & Watershed Facts

Geologic origin: Lake type: Surface area: Shoreline length: Mean depth: Maximum depth: % of lake <10 ft. deep: % of lake <5 ft. deep: Total volume: Groundwater: Watershed size: Watershed-to-lake area ratio: Watershed land uses: Wetlands: Length of inlet stream: Nutrient that drives algae/weed growth: Main source of nutrient pollution: Lake trophic status: Alkalinity/hardness: Acidification sensitivity: Winter fish-kill sensitivity: Main sport fisheries: Non-native, invasive species:

Glacial kettle lake Drainage (one inlet and one outlet) 418 acres 4.85 miles 18 feet 44 feet 46.3% 34.3% 7,561 acre-feet 30-45% of the lake's water source 8 square miles (5,120 acres) 12:1 70% agricultural; 15% residential; 15% undeveloped 385 acres (1,500 acres pre-development) 4.25 miles (includes 1.75 miles of farm ditches) Phosphorus (present in manure, fertilizers, soil, leaves, pet waste, etc.) Watershed runoff (83% of total phosphorus load) Upper-mesotrophic to eutrophic (moderate to high levels of fertility and plant/algae growth) High (lake is rich in dissolved minerals and calcium bicarbonates) Low (lake is naturally buffered from the effects of acid rain) Very low Largemouth bass; walleye; northern pike; panfish Eurasian watermilfoil and curly-leaf pondweed (aquatic submersed weeds); zebra mussels; purple loosestrife (wetland emergent weed); common carp

The Big Picture The Major Threats... - Polluted runoff from lands that drain to the lake - Cumulative impacts of shoreland development and poor land-use practices - Recreational pressures and conflicts - Loss of fish and wildlife habitat - Draining and filling of wetlands - Removal of native shoreline vegetation - Introduction and proliferation of non-native, invasive species  The Consequences... - Degraded water quality - More frequent algae blooms - Excessive weed growth - Increased recreational conflicts - Reduced plant, fish and wildlife diversity - Loss of tranquility and natural scenic beauty - Increased costs for lake management - Diminished property values The Solutions... - Promote responsible growth and low-impact land uses - Protect and restore wetlands that attenuate floods, trap pollutants and offer valuable habitat - Naturalize shorelines by planting "buffers" that consist of native plants, shrubs and trees - Control soil erosion and eliminate sources of polluted runoff - Limit hard surfaces like concrete patios, driveways and asphalt parking lots - Respect other lake users and wildlife - Follow posted rules and regulations - Understand the impacts of your actions - Support ongoing lake-improvement efforts - Educate your friends and neighbors as to what they can do to protect Lake Ripley

Lake Facts

For more detailed information about the lake and its management, you can download some of our more recent reports and informational materials (click on the "Links & Downloads" tab).  Those that are not available for downloading off our Website can be reviewed at the Lake District office and Cambridge Community Library, including:  - Lake Ripley Paleolimnological Study (1993) - Lake Ripley Water Resources Appraisal (1994) - Motorboat Impact Study (1997) - Nonpoint Source Pollution Control Plan for the Lake Ripley Priority Lake Project (1998) - Lake Ripley Management Plan (2001) - Lake Ripley Aquatic Plant Inventory & Management Plan (1992 & 2002) - Lake Ripley Watercaft Census & Recreational Carrying Capacity Analysis (2003) - Effects of Pier Shading on Littoral Zone Habitat (2004) - Lake Ripley Fishery Surveys (1992 - Present) - Property Owner Opinion Surveys (1992, 1995, 1999, 2005 & 2007) - "Ripples" Newsletters (1993 - Present)

Did You Know...          ...Ole Evinrude, founder of Evinrude Outboard Motors, tested some of his first             motors on Lake Ripley in 1907?          ...The state record largemouth bass was caught on Lake Ripley in 1940, weighing             11 pounds, 3 ounces?          ...O.H. Perry Sr. donated 41 acres of wetlands located adjacent to the Lake Ripley                inlet to the DNR around 1940?          ...A public sewer system was installed around most of the lake in 1984?          ...Lake Ripley was selected by the DNR as one of 50 Wisconsin lakes to receive             long-term trends monitoring (e.g. water quality, fisheries, aquatic plants, etc.) in             1986?          ...Lake residents purchased Lake Ripley's first mechanical weed harvester in 1989                 to combat nuisanace Eurasian watermilfoil growth?          ...The Lake District used grants and donations to acquire 100 acres of farmed              wetlands at the inlet to Lake Ripley in 1998, restoring the property to native             tall-grass prairie and marshland habitat?          ...The Lake District has obtained over $1 million in grants since it was formed in               1990?