Development Plans
Lake Levels
Lake and Watershed Preservation
Preserving and Restoring Watersheds and Wetlands
Articles and Books
Mapping and Monitoring
Carp Barriers
Related Organizations
Friends of Cherokee Marsh
The upper Yahara River and Cherokee Marsh Watershed drains the lands north of Lake Mendota, the first in the Four Lakes chain of lakes in south central Wisconsin. Cherokee Lake, just north of Lake Mendota, is a remnant of a vast, ecologically critical wetland complex.
About the Friends
The Friends of Cherokee Marsh formed in 2006 to protect, preserve, and restore the beauty, value, and health of the Cherokee Marsh and Upper Yahara river watershed.
Contact us via or by phone (608-467-5207). Our postal address is PO Box 3390, Madison WI 53704.
Join the cherokeemarsh email discussion group.
Activities and Events
Art of the Marsh
An exhibit of art that reflects Cherokee Marsh. Presented by the Northside Artists Group and the Friends of Cherokee Marsh.
Through July 30, the show is at Lieutenant Governor Barbara Lawton's office in the State Capitol (East 16). The Lt. Governor's Art in the Office exhibits are open to the public.
Yahara Heights County Park Volunteer Day
July 10 (Friday), 9:15 am to 12:30 pm
Help restore prairie. The work may include cutting and digging invasive plants and collecting early prairie seeds.
Meet on Caton Lane. Going north on HWY 113, turn right (east) on River Rd., then right on Riverview Dr., and right on Caton Lane.
Sponsored by Dane County Parks Adult Conservation Team. To sign up, contact Rhea at 608-224-3601.
The Friends of Cherokee Marsh at the Northside Farmers Market
July 19 (Sunday), 8:30 am to 12:30 pm
Look for our table in the Water Wonderland tent sponsored by the Dane County Timebank at the Northside Farmers Market. In the Northside Town Center (Sherman Plaza) on the corner of Sherman Ave. and Northport Dr.
Cherokee Marsh State Natural Area Tour
August 15 (Saturday), 10 am - noon
Sponsored by the Natural Resources
Foundation of Wisconsin
Traverse off-trail through the “wild side” of the beloved SNA.
Explore ecology and enjoy rare native plants in fen, sedge meadow, and
wet prairie. Some difficult hiking in wet tussock terrain. Fee and registration
required. Registration opens March 18 for NRFW members, April 1 for others.
Starting location provided on registration.
Riverine Early Detectors Workshop
August 29 (Saturday), 9 am - 1 pm
Training for citizen monitors to identify, report, and control invasive species in and along rivers and streams. In the Lake Mills Community Center in Jefferson County. Sponsored by the Rock River Coalition, River Alliance of WI, and DNR. More info.
About the Marsh
Location
Cherokee Marsh and nearby Public Lands. Map with major trailheads marked.
Map of the Upper Yahara River Watershed
Map showing the Yahara River and Lake Mendota watershed boundary and planned growth areas. From Dane County Planning and Development.
Satellite view of the marsh. The north end of Lake Mendota is in the bottom left corner. Zoom and pan to see different areas. Click Map or Hybrid to view a map.
Natural Areas
There are many designated natural areas in the marsh.
Cherokee Marsh Conservation Park (City of Madison).
Cherokee Marsh Fishery Area (WDNR).
Cherokee Marsh Public Access site (WDNR).
Yahara Heights/Cherokee Marsh Natural Resource Site (Dane County). Map.
A portion of the marsh is a DNR Wisconsin State Natural Area.
Cherokee Park is a Madison city park adjacent to the marsh (map).
Cherokee Marsh Naturalist Program
Trails and Tours
Hiking and Skiing
Cherokee Marsh Conservation Park trails
North Unit map. Hiking, snowshoeing, skiing (ungroomed).
South Unit map. Hiking when trails not snow-covered, skiing (groomed).
We don't have a map of the Mendota Unit, but you can access the trails from Westport Meadows Park on Beilfuss Dr. or from Sauthoff Rd. (hiking, snowshoeing, skiing (ungroomed).
Paddling
Cherokee Marsh is included in the new Yahara Waterways Water Trail Guide.
The Yahara Headwaters water trail travels through the marsh. From Capitol Water Trails.
Regulations
Slow, No-wake Zone
The Yahara River is slow, no-wake from Hwy 113 upstream to the mouth of Token Creek. Red and white striped buoys mark the river boundary with Cherokee Lake adjacent to the Cherokee Park neighborhood. The slow, no-wake restriction was enacted by local ordinances and approved by the Department of Natural Resources in 1995. During times of high water, Dane County also declares Cherokee Lake as no wake to protect the shoreline from erosion. Informational signs are posted at the School Rd. boat landing and the Hwy 113 bridge.
Slow, no-wake means the speed at which a boat moves as slowly as possible while still maintaining steerage control.
Dane County's slow, no-wake page includes any current emergency slow, no-wake orders.
Dogs
Yahara Heights County Park has a dog exercise area and allows leashed dogs in the rest of the park. Cherokee Marsh Fishery Area allows dogs, but some areas require leashing during nesting season. (Check the signs where you enter.) Dogs are not allowed in Cherokee Marsh Conservation Park.
Hunting
Deer, waterfowl, and other game hunting are allowed in the Cherokee Marsh Fishery Area and the DNR Cherokee Marsh Public Access site. Waterfowl hunting is allowed in the upper Yahara River. A portion of Yahara Heights County Park allows archery hunting for deer and turkey.
Wisconsin Hunting and Trapping Regulations
Cherokee Marsh Restoration Project
Information about Madison Parks' Marsh Restoration
Survey of the Cherokee Marsh Restoration Project by Jenna Lind, Molly Schneberger, and Rachael Steller. Student project documenting correlations between water depth and vegetation presence, species presence and biomass, and submergent aquatic cover on the wetland floor.
The Wetlands of Dane County, Wisconsin
In 1974, the Dane County Regional Plan Commission in cooperation with the Wisconsin DNR researched and published a book titled The Wetlands of Dane County, Wisconsin. The book describes and evaluates the county's wetlands.
Cherokee Marsh maps and descriptions from the book:
Overview
Map A (north)
Map A Key
Map B (central)
Map B Key
Map C (south)
Map C Key
All of the above files in a zip file
Introduction and description of the wetland ecosystem (9 MB)
Dane County Water Resources. Map showing the watershed and marshes lost since 1905.
The book is available in local libraries.