Lake Property Numbering System
The Dane County Lakes and Watershed Commission and the Dane County
Sheriff’s Department, working with the Dane County Land Information Office
and Dane County Public Safety Communications, have created a lake property
numbering system to provide a more rapid response to emergencies and enhance
the personal safety of everyone who uses the lakes. Implementation of this
new lake property/pier number system began in spring 2003.
Each lakeshore property on Lakes Mendota, Monona, Waubesa and Kegonsa has
been assigned a unique "lake address." The Mendota addresses begin with
the letter "A"; Monona with "B"; Waubesa "C"; and Kegonsa "D". These numbers
have been cross-referenced in the 911-computer system with the property
street address.
In the spring of 2003, lake property owners received a letter providing
them with their "lake address" and requesting that they voluntarily post
this address on a sign at the end of their piers where it will be visible
from the water. The letter identified where the signs can be purchased. The
metal signs are similar to those used in the Dane County rural numbering system;
however, the lake signs are blue in color. The cost of these signs and
letters/numbers is $10. This is an entirely voluntary program.
With this system in place, a boater in distress can report his or her location
by cell phone using the nearest lake property "address" as a reference point. Similarly,
a landowner who observes an emergency on the water can dial 911 and the dispatcher will
be able to translate the street address to a water location. For an emergency in a
lakefront home, the nearest response may be the Sheriff's Recreation Patrol.
An added benefit to lakeshore residents is that the lake address can assist in
locating by water the home of friends. Instead of providing directions such as
"the large white house located between the big willow tree and the brown boat
house,” lakeshore residents are able to give friends their pier address. With
that number, friends are immediately able to navigate to the correct area of the
lake and find the exact pier.
Any questions about this program should be directed to Sue Jones, Lakes and
Watershed Commission staff at 224-3764, or the Sheriff’s Marine and Trail
Enforcement Bureau at 284-6878.
NOTE: For properties on Lake Mendota within the Village of Maple Bluff,
the lake property numbering system will be implemented at a later date. A
lake property number will be assigned upon completion of Geographic
Information System (GIS) parcel mapping for the Village.
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