Lazy Lake (Fall R Millpond), Upper Crawfish River Watershed (UR06)
Lazy Lake (Fall R Millpond), Upper Crawfish River Watershed (UR06)
Lazy Lake (Fall R Millpond) (843400)
206 Acres
Natural Community
Natural communities (stream and lake natural communities) represent model results that use predicted flow and temperature based on landscape features and related assumptions. Ranges of flow and temperature associated with specific aquatic life communities (fish, macroinvertebrates) help biologists identify appropriate resource management goals. Wisconsin Natural Communities.
Reservoir
Year Last Monitored
This is the most recent date of monitoring data stored in SWIMS. Additional surveys for fish and habitat may be available subsequent to this date.
2023
Poor
 
This impoundment is impaired
High Phosphorus Levels
Total Phosphorus
 
Columbia
Trout Water 
Trout Waters are represented by Class I, Class II or Class III waters. These classes have specific ecological characteristics and management actions associated with them. For more information regarding Trout Classifications, see the Fisheries Trout Class Webpages.
No
Outstanding or Exceptional 
Wisconsin has designated many of the state's highest quality waters as Outstanding Resource Waters (ORWs) or Exceptional Resource Waters (ERWs). Waters designated as ORW or ERW are surface waters which provide outstanding recreational opportunities, support valuable fisheries and wildlife habitat, have good water quality, and are not significantly impacted by human activities. ORW and ERW status identifies waters that the State of Wisconsin has determined warrant additional protection from the effects of pollution. These designations are intended to meet federal Clean Water Act obligations requiring Wisconsin to adopt an 'antidegradation' policy that is designed to prevent any lowering of water quality - especially in those waters having significant ecological or cultural value.
No
Impaired Water 
A water is polluted or 'impaired' if it does not support full use by humans, wildlife, fish and other aquatic life and it is shown that one or more of the pollutant criteria are not met.
Yes

Fish and Aquatic Life

Current Use
The use the water currently supports. This is not a designation or classification; it is based on the current condition of the water. Information in this column is not designed for, and should not be used for, regulatory purposes.
Restricted Aquatic Life
Fish and Aquatic Life communities are not fully supported in this ecosystem.
Attainable Use
The use that the investigator believes the water could achieve through managing "controllable" sources. Beaver dams, hydroelectric dams, low gradient streams, and naturally occurring low flows are generally not considered controllable. The attainable use may be the same as the current use or it may be higher.
WWSF
Streams capable of supporting a warm waterdependent sport fishery. Representative aquatic life communities associated with these waters generally require cool or warm temperatures and concentrations of dissolved oxygen that do not drop below 5 mg/L.
Designated Use
This is the water classification legally recognized by NR102 and NR104, Wis. Adm. Code. The classification determines water quality criteria and effluent limits. Waters obtain designated uses through classification procedures.
Cold
Streams capable of supporting a cold water sport fishery, or serving as a spawning area for salmonids and other cold water fish species. Representative aquatic life communities, associated with these waters, generally require cold temperatures and concentrations of dissolved oxygen that remain above 6 mg/L. Since these waters are capable of supporting natural reproduction, a minimum dissolved oxygen concentration of 7 mg/L is required during times of active spawning and support of early life stages of newly-hatched fish.

Overview

Lazy Lake (Fall R Millpond), in the Upper Crawfish River Watershed, is a 205.99 acre lake that falls in Columbia County. This lake is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently considered impaired.

Date  2012

Author  Ashley Beranek

Historical Description

Source: 1965, Surface Water Resources of Columbia County Lazy Lake, (Fall River Millpond) T11N, R12E, Sections 26-27,
Surface Acres = 174, S.D.F. = 3.25, Maximum Depth = 6 feet
An impoundment of the Crawfish River at the village of Fall River. A village-owned dam of about 10-foot head maintains the water level. The water is clear and quite fertile. Panfish, largemouth bass, and northern pike provide the fishery, with the lake being noted for producing good northern pike and bluegill fishing. Weeds and winterkill may be use problems. The lake was chemically treated to remove rough fish in 1958. A village park and two roads provide access for multiple use, and commercial facilities provide boats. About seven acres of wetland border the lake. Waterfowl make limited use of the area.

Date  1965

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Lazy Lake (Fall R Millpond), Upper Crawfish River Watershed (UR06) Fish and Aquatic LifeLazy Lake (Fall R Millpond), Upper Crawfish River Watershed (UR06) RecreationLazy Lake (Fall R Millpond), Upper Crawfish River Watershed (UR06) Fish Consumption

Impaired Waters

Lazy Lake (Fall R Millpond) (843400) was placed on the impaired waters list for phosphorus in 2012. Lazy Lake was evaluated for phosphorus and algae every two years between 2012 and 2020. Phosphorus levels were found to be too high, which was reflected in algal blooms.

Date  2019

Author  Ashley Beranek

Condition

Wisconsin has over 84,000 miles of streams, 15,000 lakes and milllions of acres of wetlands. Assessing the condition of this vast amount of water is challenging. The state's water monitoring program uses a media-based, cross-program approach to analyze water condition. An updated monitoring strategy (2015-2020) is now available. Compliance with Clean Water Act fishable, swimmable standards are located in the Executive Summary of Water Condition in 2018. See also the 'monitoring and projects' tab.

Reports

Recommendations

Wastewater Monitoring or Management
Lakes Planning Grant
Aquatic Plant Monitoring or Survey
Aquatic Plant Management Plan
Update
Monitor Water Quality or Sediment
Nutrient Budget Development
Water Quality Modeling
Best Management Practices, Implement
This project is an installation of nonpoint source best management practices to contribute to the restoration of Wisconsin's waters and was funded by the 319 grant. Specifically, the grantee will cost-share efforts by private landowners within the North Branch of the Crawfish River to address agricultural nonpoint sources of pollution through the installation of Best Management Practices (BMPs) addressing sediment and nutrient loading into the impoundment of Lazy Lake and to address violations of the NR 151 Agricultural Performance Standards and Prohibitions relating to: erosion, tillage setback, phosphorus index, manure storage facilities-new/significant alterations, manure storage facilities-closure, manure storage facilities-existing failing/leaking, process wastewater handling, clean water diversions, nutrient management, prevention of overflow from manure storage facilities, prevention of unconfined manure piles in water quality management areas, prevention of direct runoff from a feedlot or stored manure into waters of the state, and prevention of unlimited livestock access.

Management Goals

Wisconsin's Water Quality Standards provide qualitative and quantitative goals for waters that are protective of Fishable, Swimmable conditions [Learn more]. Waters that do not meet water quality standards are considered impaired and restoration actions are planned and carried out until the water is once again fishable and swimmable

Management goals can include creation or implementation of a Total Maximum Daily Load analysis, a Nine Key Element Plan, or other restoration work, education and outreach and more. If specific recommendations exist for this water, they will be displayed below online.

Monitoring

Monitoring the condition of a river, stream, or lake includes gathering physical, chemical, biological, and habitat data. Comprehensive studies often gather all these parameters in great detail, while lighter assessment events will involve sampling physical, chemical and biological data such as macroinvertebrates. Aquatic macroinvertebrates and fish communities integrate watershed or catchment condition, providing great insight into overall ecosystem health. Chemical and habitat parameters tell researchers more about human induced problems including contaminated runoff, point source dischargers, or habitat issues that foster or limit the potential of aquatic communities to thrive in a given area. Wisconsin's Water Monitoring Strategy was recenty updated.

Grants and Management Projects

Monitoring Projects

Watershed Characteristics

Lazy Lake (Fall R Millpond) is located in the Upper Crawfish River watershed which is 161.18 miĀ². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (73.50%), wetland (10.70%) and a mix of grassland (7.40%) and other uses (8.30%). This watershed has 228.16 stream miles, 731.69 lake acres and 11,027.15 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked High for runoff impacts on streams, Low for runoff impacts on lakes and High for runoff impacts on groundwater and therefore has an overall rank of High. This value can be used in ranking the watershed or individual waterbodies for grant funding under state and county programs.This water is ranked High Lake for individual Impoundments based on runoff problems and the likelihood of success from project implementation.

Natural Community

Lazy Lake (Fall R Millpond) is considered a Reservoir under the state's Natural Community Determinations.

Natural communities (stream and lake natural communities) represent model results and DNR staff valiation processes that confirm or update predicted conditions based on flow and temperature modeling from historic and current landscape features and related variables. Predicated flow and temperatures for waters are associated predicated fish assemblages (communities). Biologists evaluate the model results against current survey data to determine if the modeled results are corect and whether biological indicators show water quaity degradation. This analysis is a core component of the state's resource management framework. Wisconsin's Riverine Natural Communities.