How does flooding affect the wetlands around the lake?
Flooding effects that occur in the Rock River and in Lake Koshkonong can vary depending on amplitude and duration. The term “flood” has various technical definitions but in a normal sense means when the water level overtops the normal bank or shore elevation. This elevation varies from the upstream to downstream ends of the lake but for practical purposes is about a water elevation of 779 to 780 mean sea level. When the water levels reach this stage, uplands and wetlands around the lake become inundated. If the inundation occurs for a long enough duration during the growing season it can affect the ability of vegetation to either germinate if it occurs in early spring or maintain viability if it occurs in summer, generally speaking. The wetlands surrounding Lake Koshkonong have evolved in what can be described as a normal flooding event circumstance. The Rock River water levels reach or surpass the flood elevations on an almost annual basis, therefore the plant communities in the ripar
