Lake Koshkonong is a reservoir in southern Wisconsin, which was transformed from its original marshland by the construction of the Indianford Dam in 1932.

Current thinking suggests that the modern spelling is a contraction of various names given to the region by white settlers in the early 19th century.

They incorporated various pronunciations of the region from various surrounding tribes, including "Kashkawanung" from the Ojibwe, "Coscahoenah" from the Menomini, and "Kuskouonog" from the Potowatomi.

This theory is supported by the fact that these name forms seem to share Algonquian language patterns, despite describing a Winnebago (Siouan) village.

Once a deep-water marsh covered with emergent vegetation, the lake was predominantly wetlands filled with reeds, wild rice, and grasses.

The wetlands have significantly disappeared since then due to rising water levels caused by higher dams and the ever changing landscape.

[8] In the surrounding habitats of Lake Koshkonong's riparian wetlands, many endangered species of birds can be found.

Loss of trees, herbaceous vegetation, and groundwater dependent wetland plants will effect the species they support.

Some of the rare species found in this area that are impacted by rising water levels and habitat loss are the Cerulean warbler and the Acadian flycatcher.

[9] For fishing to be able to occur on the lake it has to be stocked by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources at the Bark River Hatchery in Fort Atkinson with Walleye and Northern pike.

Participants are encouraged to dress up their boat with lights and decorations of their choosing and cruise along with one another ending at the Lakeview bar.

[10] The loss of aquatic plant biodiversity and rising water levels on the lake due to flooding has caused significant erosion over the past 50 years.

Riprap armor has been used to prevent future erosion, but it is mostly a short term fix where human made rock formations are placed along the shoreline to protect against scour and waves.

In 2002 and 2003 the Rock Koshkonong Lake District (RKLD) teamed up with wetland owners to protect around 40% or almost 5 miles of the shoreline with riprap armor.

[7] Lake koshkonong is known for its tinted green color which is caused by algae and nutrient runoff from the Rock River.

[9] Algal blooms can result in high levels of blue-green algae which can be harmful to humans and pets under certain circumstances.