Fish Consumption Advisory Updated For Parts Of Yahara Chain In Dane County

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Department of Health Services (DHS) today announced changes to the existing PFAS consumption advisory for portions of the Yahara Chain of Lakes in Dane County.

Following the initial advisory issued for parts of the Yahara Chain in June 2021, the DNR Bureau of Fisheries Management collected additional fish samples for analysis. Elevated levels of PFOS (perfluorooctane sulfonate), a type of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), were found in white bass collected from Lake Kegonsa.

As a result, the DNR and DHS have developed a new advisory for Yahara Chain waters from Wingra Creek, Starkweather Creek, Lake Monona, Lake Waubesa, Upper and Lower Mud Lake, Lake Kegonsa and the Yahara River downstream to where it meets the Rock River.

In addition to the existing advisories issued in June 2021, the DNR and DHS are now recommending the consumption of one meal per month for white bass.

*The general/statewide white bass consumption advice for women <50 and children is 1 meal/month and 1 meal/week for women >50 and men.

PFAS are a group of human-made chemicals used for decades in numerous products, including non-stick cookware, fast food wrappers, stain-resistant sprays and certain types of firefighting foam. These legacy contaminants have made their way into the environment in a variety of ways, including spills of PFAS-containing materials, discharges of PFAS-containing wastewater to treatment plants, and certain types of firefighting foams.

The risk of health problems increases with the amount of contaminated fish you eat. Following consumption advisories will help protect you from excess PFOS exposure and other contaminants found in fish, including mercury and PCBs. A complete list of consumption advisories can be found in the updated Choose Wisely Booklet.

You can find additional fish consumption advice and information on the effects of PFAS on the DNR’s website.