Flood Protection Resources

The Dane County Land & Water Resources Department manages the lake levels in the four major chain of lakes: Mendota, Monona, Waubesa and Kegonsa. As published on their website, the water level in Lake Mendota is currently about 851.6. The near-term water level forecast for Lake Mendota, published on the Integrated Nowcast/Forecast Operation System for Yahara Lakes (INFOS), shows that by Sunday the water surface may be in the range of 851.6 - 852.0. That would still be below the 100-year floodplain elevation of about 852.8, though some homes may be at a lower elevation and more susceptible to water intrusion.

Water levels in the City's kettle ponds (Esser, Stricker, Tiedeman, Graber) are not expected to rise significantly in the near-term.

In response to recent requests for public assistance from several neighbors, the City of Middleton Mayor authorized staff to provide sand, sandbags, and plastic sheeting for neighbor use in constructing temporary levees to protect their homes. Sandbagging materials will be delivered today to Dewey Ct., including some sand generously donated by Yahara Materials. City staff will continue monitoring lake levels and will resupply materials as needed. Property owners with lake frontage that need sand, bags or plastic should call the Public Works Department at 821-8370 (8:00 am - 4:00 pm), or the Police Department at 824-7300 (after hours). Requests made after hours will generally be addressed the following morning.

When it comes time for neighbors to remove their temporary levees, they may bring the full bags to the street for collection by the City. The City will also collect excess sand and unused bags and sheeting when conditions warrant. Any empty bags that have been used may simply be thrown out with the trash.

To protect properties from future high lake levels, the City of Middleton is also asking residents on the shore of Lake Mendota to consider investing in the purchase of tubes that can be filled with water to form a flood barrier, or some other reusable flood protection product that would be easier and faster to deploy than the labor-intensive construction of a temporary sandbag levee.

Additional information and resources:
https://www.cityofmiddleton.us/811/Flood-Protection-Sandbags
https://www.cityofmiddleton.us/812/Flooding-What-to-do