Silver Lake, Kenosha County- Critical Habitat Designation
Department personnel conducted sensitive area designation surveys on Silver Lake both on September 5, 2001 and June 25th, 2007 following the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources' sensitive area survey protocol. This study utilized an integrated team of DNR resource managers with input from multiple disciplines: water regulation and zoning, fisheries, lake biology, wildlife, and aquatic plant management. Two sites were identified on Silver Lake as containing critical habitat and were therefore designated as sensitive areas. Map 1 provides the boundaries of each sensitive area.
Department biologists observed sixteen native aquatic plant species in sensitive area #1 and seven native aquatic plant species in sensitive area #2. Two exotic aquatic plant species were observed in these sensitive areas as well. Eurasian water milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) was observed in both areas and purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) was observed in sensitive area #1. A plant survey was conducted on the entire lake on June 7th and June 8th, 2006 by DNR bureau of research staff. Twenty five species of native plants were documented as well as two exotic aquatic plant species. The exotic species included eurasian water
Final Report and Products