Kathryn Lake, Upper Yellow (Taylor Co.) River Watershed (LC20)
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Kathryn Lake, Upper Yellow (Taylor Co.) River Watershed (LC20)
Kathryn Lake (2166100)
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63.31 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.
Deep Headwater
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.
2020
Good
 
Taylor
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.
No

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.
Deep Headwater
Deep headwater lake describes the depth and location of the lake in a watershed. These variables affect the lakes response to watershed variables.
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.
Default FAL
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.
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.
Default FAL
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.

Overview

Kathryn Lake is a 62-acre drained lake near Perkinstown. Volunteer self-help lake monitoring
information shows ths lake to be slightly eutrophic with TSI values in the range of 56. An aeration
system was installed with the cooperation of the Chequamegon National Forest Fisheries Biologist. A
lakes planning grant could be used to obtain additional water quality data.

Date  1996

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

Source: 1970, Surface Water Resources of Taylor County Kathryn Lake, T31N, R2W, Section 4

A hard water, drained lake with an outlet feeder to Anderson Lake. The estimated normal flow of the outlet is 0.1 cubic foot per second. The fish population includes northern pike, walleyes, largemouth bass, perch, bluegills, black crappies, and black bullheads. Stunted panfish and excessive aquatic vegetation are management problems. The lakeshore vegetation consists of 75 percent upland hardwood and 25 percent wetland. The littoral bottom zone is mostly muck, but there are scattered areas of gravel, rubble, and boulders. Aquatic vegetation is abundant, with species of pickerel weed, bulrushes, cattails, yellow and white waterlilies, coontail, and pondweed. Furbearer and waterfowl use is not significant. Kathryn Lake Campground, a federally-owned and operated campground, is located on the southeast shore. In addition to camping, there are picnicking and swimming facilities, as well as, a boat launching ramp. Private development consists of one resort, a boat rental, and twenty dwellings. There is 0.36 miles of public frontage on the lake.

Surface Acres = 63.2, Maximum Depth = 55 feet, M.P.A. = 62 ppm, Secchi Disk = 8 feet

Date  1970

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Kathryn Lake, Upper Yellow (Taylor Co.) River Watershed (LC20) Fish and Aquatic LifeKathryn Lake, Upper Yellow (Taylor Co.) River Watershed (LC20) RecreationKathryn Lake, Upper Yellow (Taylor Co.) River Watershed (LC20) Fish Consumption

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

Kathryn Lake, Taylor County - Aquatic Plant Sampling Map (30 mpts)
Kathryn Lake, Taylor County - Garmin Text File
2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments
2018 List of Healthy (Category 2) Waters
Final Assessment Data from TSI Package and Assessment Units 2018
Lake Bathymetry Map for Kathryn Lake

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

Project Name (Click for Details)Year Started
Fish Propagation Actions2001

Monitoring Projects

WBICOfficial Waterbody NameStation IDStation NameEarliest Fieldwork DateLatest Fieldwork DateView StationView Data
2166100Kathryn Lake613182Kathryn Lake - Deep Hole7/16/19879/26/1992MapData
2166100Kathryn Lake10019157Kathryn Lake -- Access9/10/20137/13/2019MapData
2166100Kathryn Lake10019158Kathryn Lake -- Access7/13/20197/13/2019MapData
2166100Kathryn Lake10005822Kathryn Lake4/20/19947/13/2020MapData

Watershed Characteristics

Kathryn Lake is located in the Upper Yellow (Taylor Co.) River watershed which is 241.08 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (51.50%), wetland (30.60%) and a mix of agricultural (10.80%) and other uses (7.10%). This watershed has 306.51 stream miles, 682.42 lake acres and 30,178.84 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked Low for runoff impacts on streams, Not Ranked for runoff impacts on lakes and Low for runoff impacts on groundwater and therefore has an overall rank of Low. This value can be used in ranking the watershed or individual waterbodies for grant funding under state and county programs.However, all waters are affected by diffuse pollutant sources regardless of initial water quality. Applications for specific runoff projects under state or county grant programs may be pursued. For more information, go to surface water program grants.

Natural Community

Kathryn Lake is considered a Deep Headwater 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.

Deep headwater lake describes the depth and location of the lake in a watershed. These variables affect the lakes response to watershed variables.