LAKE INFO

Lake Mendota
Surface Area: 3,985 ha
Max Depth: 25.3 m
Mean Depth: 12.7 m

Lake Monona
Surface Area: 1,326 ha
Max Depth: 22.6 m
Mean Depth: 8.3 m
Lake Waubesa
Surface Area: 843 ha
Max Depth: 11.6 m
Mean Depth: 4.7 m
Lake Kegonsa
Surface Area: 1,299 ha
Max Depth: 9.8 m
Mean Depth: 5.1 m

Partnership

EFM

City of Madison

Dane County

WDNR

LTER

NSF

 

Brittingham Beach - Lake Monona

ADDRESS:
701 W. Brittingham Place, Madison
DIRECTIONS:
On Monona Bay in Brittingham Park
DESCRIPTION:
Brittingham Beach is located along the north shore of Monona Bay, in Brittingham Park. In 1904, the bay was full of weeds and trash and was called a "disease breeding hole" at the annual meeting of the Madison Park and Pleasure Drive Association. At that time, the City of Madison owned just a small piece of property along the bay and lacked the finances to improve the area by building a park, as was suggested at the meeting. A short time later, however, a wealthy citizen donated enough money for the city to acquire 27 acres of mostly marshland, which would be the future site of the park. The bay was dredged to fill in the marsh, and the area was topped with soil and vegetation. Built in 1910, it was Madison's first "water park," boasting an expansive water slide and rental swimsuits. Nearly 100 years ago, it was one of the city's most popular spots, yet now it is one of the least frequented beaches for swimmers.

Today most of the park has boulder riprap at the shoreline, with the remaining beach area measuring approximately 80 feet long and 32 feet wide, with an average slope of 9.3%. Storm outfalls sit on either side of the beach, both about 340 feet away. Also, there is frequently evidence of a sizable goose population, though Parks staff has reduced mowing frequency along the shoreline to minimize goose accessibility.

Between 2005 and 2009, the beach was closed 2 times (5 days total) for high blue green algae levels and 7 times (34 days total) for high bacteria levels. It is currently listed on the EPA's 303(d) list of impaired beaches for high bacteria levels. Note that all Lake Monona beaches were closed for a week in 2008 due to a raw sewage release from an MMSD pumping station.

WATER QUALITY MONITORING:
PHMDC
Brittingham Beach

Brittingham Beach
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More information is available on the Public Health, Madison & Dane County website