LIVING HERE
With Memorial Day under two weeks away, the lake is about to get busy.
To keep informed on lake issues, check with the GLEA on social media every Tuesday for weekly E.coli updates and more. The GLEA is all about keeping lake users informed so all can have a great lake experience. The GLEA’s lake testing protocol is designed to ensure public health and safety. During May through September, GLEA does weekly water testing around the lake. Test results, weather observations, and follow-up actions are all logged into the GLEA database and published for the public at www.gleawi.org.
When or if E. coli levels confirm that fecal matter is present, further testing is done, and the origin is pinpointed. If any risk is present, proper steps are taken to inform the public, and signage is posted warning the public of the issue. In the previous summer season, Geneva Lake experienced algae blooms, closing the public beaches. Blue-green algae are a type of bacteria that produces its own food using sunlight. It is commonly found in fresh water, often appearing as a blue-green or brownish scum.
Certain algae blooms can be harmful to humans and animals. The blooms need to be monitored and studied to ensure the public’s safety. This is not a typical issue for Geneva Lake. In the event of another blue-green algae bloom, reporting will be immediate. The GLEA will initiate an immediate protocol response. The bloom will be inspected, and if it looks to be harmful, videos and pictures will be taken and sent to Walworth County Public Health, the Department of Natural Resources, and all municipalities that share the lake.
The GLEA will serve as a liaison with county and state departments. Constant communication will be vital with all those affected. Ongoing monitoring, updates, and resolutions are all part of the protocol. The goal is to have a safe lake for all to enjoy.
Walleye is not native to Geneva Lake but there is a volunteer group making sure the lake stays stock with them.
The fishery is maintained through active stocking efforts by the Wisconsin DNR and groups like Walleyes For Tomorrow. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is also not stocking walleye in Geneva Lake as they used to. According to their fish stocking summary, the DNR stocked about 100,000 large fingerling walleye every other year between 2015 and 2021. The amount decreased to about 50,000 in both 2023 and 2025.
The lake’s rocky, steep conditions and lack of specific flowing streams prevent successful, consistent spawning. Volunteers, including the Walworth County chapter of Walleyes for Tomorrow, incubate eggs to keep population levels high. Walleyes For Tomorrow restarted its Walworth County Chapter, including its portable fish hatchery, last year after a long break. The hatchery is set up on the south side of the Abby in Fontana. Walleyes For Tomorrow scraped eggs from female walleye in Geneva Lake last month, fertilized them with milt, and spent the past few weeks incubating them. The fish are now hatching, and millions of fry will soon be introduced to the lake. It’s estimates only one percent of the hatched walleye will make it to full maturity, which happens about five years after they are born. Despite lacking a native, self-sustaining population, the lake is a top destination for walleye fishing, particularly with deep-water techniques in summer and fall.
