Madison Lake (Minnesota)

Madison Lake (sometimes styled Lake Madison in publications up to the early part of the 20th century[1][2]) is a lake in Blue Earth County, Minnesota, United States.[3] The lake covers an area of 1,446 acres (5.85 km2) and is 59 feet (18 m) deep at its deepest point.[4] It is named after President James Madison[5] The city of Madison Lake, Minnesota is located on the Northwest shoreline of the lake. The lake and the Point Pleasant resort have been long-noted fishing destinations.[6][7] Madison Lake is part of the Le Sueur River watershed.

Madison Lake
Location of lake in Minnesota.
Location of lake in Minnesota.
Madison Lake
LocationBlue Earth County, Minnesota
Coordinates44°11′15″N 93°48′45″W
Typelake
Basin countriesUnited States
Surface area1,446 acres (5.85 km2)
Max. depth59 ft (18 m)
Shore length112 mi (19 km)
Surface elevation1,017 ft (310 m)
Islands0
Settlements0
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Ice Out Data

Madison Lake is notable in that reliable climatology data has been maintained for the last ice or "Ice Out" on the lake since 1927.[8][9] Data was recorded on a nearby barn from 1927 to 1940[10][11] Frank McCabe measured from 1940 to 1977. Local residents Mary and Dennis Buschkowsky measured diligently from 1977 through 2018[12] The Buschkowskys' nephew, Steve Schoeb continues to monitor starting in 2019.[13][14] The earliest ice-out recorded on the lake was March 8, 2000.[9] The latest was April 30, 2018.[15][9] The median ice out date as of 2020 is computed as April 5[14] or April 6.[9]

References
  1. Minnesota. State Entomologist (1914). Report, State Entomologist of Minnesota to the Governor. Agricultural Experiment Station. pp. 1–.
  2. Geology of Minnesota. United States: Pioneer Press Company, Printers, 1884.
  3. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Madison Lake (Minnesota)
  4. Madison Lake. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
  5. Warren Upham (2001). Minnesota Place Names: A Geographical Encyclopedia. Minnesota Historical Society Press. pp. 64–. ISBN 978-0-87351-396-8.
  6. W. H. Steele (1912). Memories of By-gone Days. Beacon Press. pp. 160–. September days at Madison Lake
  7. A Summer Holiday: A Brief Description of Some of the Most Noted Summer Resorts in Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota, and the Best Routes by which They Can be Reached. Rand, McNally & Company, printers. 1884.
  8. Nienaber, Dan - For science, watching the ice fade on Madison Lake. St. Paul Pioneer Press, April 19, 2013
  9. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Lakefinder - Madison, State of Minnesota DNR, 2020. Madison (07004400) Ice Out Summary Median ice out date: April 6, Earliest ice out date: March 4, 1931, Latest ice out date: April 30, 2018, Period of record: 1927 to 2020, Number of observations: 102.
  10. Krohn, Tim - Lakes free of ice, water levels high. Mankato Free Press, April 17, 2019
  11. Arola, Brian - Cold spring could bring historically late ice-outs Mankato Free Press, April 15, 2018
  12. Nienaber, Dan - Madison Lake’s official ice-out monitors maintain a history of spring. Mankato Free Press, April 13, 2013
  13. Dudley, Kevin - Local lakes officially ice free. Mankato Free Press, April 3, 2020
  14. Rademacher, Natalie - Ice leaving lakes earlier this spring. Mankato Free Press, March 26, 2021
  15. Arola, Brian - Spring in, ice out — finally Mankato Free Press, May 1, 2018
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