Lake Management Plan for Lake Comus

Lake Comus is a 131-acre shallow impoundment of Turtle Creek located on the north side of the City of Delavan. The Lake receives runoff from a 32.8 square mile watershed located entirely within Walworth County. Agriculture and wetlands are the most common land uses within the watershed. Lake Comus is a significant part of the extensive primary environmental corridor stretching along Turtle Creek. Unlike many lakes with public access in Southeastern Wisconsin, most of the Lake’s shoreline is undeveloped wetland. This allows ample opportunity for wildlife viewing, fishing, and paddle sports. The Lake supports a warmwater sport fish community and is regularly stocked with northern pike. The adjacent Paul Lange and Ora Rice Arboretums as well as proximity to downtown Delavan enhances the Lake’s recreational opportunities.

As a shallow lake with a large watershed, Lake Comus is highly susceptible to problems associated with excessive nutrient and sediment loading. Such problems include diminished water clarity, minimal aquatic plant coverage, and frequent algal blooms, as documented in the Lake’s 2022 303(d) impaired waters listing. Issues of interest and concern addressed in this management plan include the following:

• Water Quality
• Priority Areas and Conservation Practices for Pollutant Load Reduction
• Aquatic Plant Community
• Shoreline Erosion and Restoration
• Restoring Natural Hydrology

This planning program is funded in part by a Chapter NR 190 Lake Management Planning grant awarded to the Lake Comus Protection and Rehabilitation District. This lake management plan focuses on what can be done to continue to protect existing high-quality resources and prevent further pollution and resource degradation. The plan provides an inventory of the natural and built environment within the Lake’s watershed, recommendations on how to address issues of concern, and descriptions of programs and resources that could support the implementation of the plan’s recommendations.

We are inviting public comments regarding the lake management plan. The plan can be found at the following link:

Community Assistance Planning Report 341, A Lake Management Plan for Lake Comus, Walworth County, Wisconsin

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