Petenwell Lake
| Petenwell Lake | |
|---|---|
| Location | Adams / Juneau / Wood counties, Wisconsin, US |
| Coordinates | 44°03′27″N 90°01′13″W / 44.05750°N 90.02028°WCoordinates: 44°03′27″N 90°01′13″W / 44.05750°N 90.02028°W |
| Type | artificial lake |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 23,000 acres (9,300 ha) |
| Max. depth | 42 ft (13 m) |
Lake Petenwell is a man-made lake in central Wisconsin, in Adams, Juneau, and Wood counties next to Castle Rock Lake. It covers over 23,000 acres (93 km2) and is 42 feet (13 m) deep.[1] Lake Petenwell is Wisconsin's second largest lake at 23,040 acres (93.2 km2) or approximately 36 square miles (93 km2). It was created in 1948 by the Wisconsin River Power Company with the construction of a dam across the Wisconsin River near Necedah.[2] It has a maximum depth of 42 feet (13 m) and is used for skiing, sailing and fishing. Private lakefront property is very limited as most of the virgin shoreline is undeveloped forest. Wildlife includes wintering bald eagles. Game fish include walleye, northern pike, bass, panfish, and muskellunge.
The area around the lake has restaurants, a community theater, a golf course and two casinos.
Algae
Lake Petenwell has blue-green algae blooms in the summer, the toxicity of which is unknown. The algae, which exists naturally in most lakes, is magnified on Lake Petenwell as a result of industrial and agricultural sources upstream.[3] The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources has recommended that humans and pets[4] not use the waterway for recreational use.[5]
References
- ↑ Adams County, Wisconsin
- ↑ Petenwell Lake (Petenwell Dam)
- ↑ Marshall, Jessica, "Blue-Green Algae: Iridescent but Deadly", The Atlantic, retrieved 17 August 2013
- ↑ Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. "Blue-Green Algae".
- ↑ Petenwell and Castle Rock Stewards. "Blue-Green Algae at Petenwell, Castle Rock Lakes".