Apple Lake, St. Croix County- Critical Habitat Designation
A Sensitive Area Study was conducted October 11, 2004 on Apple Lake, St. Croix County. However the study also drew upon multiple fish studies conducted prior to the October 11 and mid-summer aquatic plant studies conducted every three years during 1986-2001. Apple Lake is a 129-acre lake with a maximum depth of 32 ft and an average depth of 13 ft. The water level was low during the time of the sensitive area study. Apple Lake has been a hypereutrophic lake with very poor water quality and water clarity. High nutrient levels support the growth of abundant planktonic and filamentous algae. Aquatic plant growth in Apple Lake is limited by the soft water, steep littoral zone in some portions of the lake, fluctuating water levels, less favorable sediments for plant growth in the shallow zones and poor water clarity. The aquatic plant community has changed from sparse plant growth, fair diversity and below average quality in 1986, to more abundant plant growth, average diversity and nearly average quality in 1989-1995, and finally to sparse plant growth, good diversity and below average quality in 1998-2001.
Final Report and Products