Marinette County, Wisconsin
GB08
521400
40.34
Condition has remained stable; water is not impaired.
Notes
Bass Lake was evaluated in the 2014, 2020, and 2022 cycles; phosphorus and algae data indicated a healthy system. This lake is on the Healthy Waters List.Pollutant
Mercury
Listed For
Impairments
NA
Current Use
Listing Status
Water Delisted
Attainable Use
Priority
Delisted 2010
Designated Use
303(d) ID
23
Listing Date
4/1/1998
Impaired Water Notes
Further review of data was conducted. The only data available, from 2001, shows levels ranging from .28 to .93, which would not meet the threshold for a specific listing. This mercury listing was proposed for removal from the impaired waters list in 2010.
Date
4/1/2010
Impaired Water Notes
In review of the previous fish tissue contamination listing, Candy Schrank recommends that it be delisted for mercury/fish tissue contamination, because it appears that it was originally listed in error. Greg Sevener concurs. There was no data that should have led to it being listed in 2000, and the only data available, from 2001, show levels ranging from .28 to .93, which would not meet the threshold for a specific listing.
Date
10/26/2009
Pollutant
Total Phosphorus
Listed For
Impairments
NA
Current Use
Listing Status
Water Delisted
Attainable Use
Priority
Delisted 2010
Designated Use
303(d) ID
23
Listing Date
4/1/1998
Impaired Water Notes
Since the practices were implemented to reduce external phosphorus loading from agricultural sources in the Bass Lake watershed followed by the alum treatment in 1999 to assist in diminishing the internal phosphorus loading, Bass Lake's water quality has improved and recovered from a eutrophic condition. Refer to the Bass Lake Restoration Project Final Report November 2008 for details on the reduction of internal and external phosphorus loading. The Trophic Status Indices (TSI) have shown steady improvements in the past five years. The chlorophyll TSI has been 41.7, the secchi TSI has averaged 37, and the phosphorus TSI has averaged 49 in the past five years. WisCALM 2009 categorizes these indices as being good to excellent for a deep headwater lake. The debilitating algal blooms no longer occur which has allowed generally improved macrophyte growth. The fish population was surveyed using electrofishing equipment in 2008 and found to be a healthy largemouth bass and panfish fishery. Bass Lake still experiences routine hypolimnetic anoxia from sediment oxygen demand where the oxygen drops below 5 mg/l, however, significantly more of the water column profile down to 8 meters plus in open water now experiences adequate oxygen concentrations for fish and aquatic life. There is a Winkler Titration oxygen profile in the lake fish file which shows oxygen dropping to zero at 9 meters in July back in 1964 prior to severe lake eutophication taking place. There have been no reported fish kills with the water quality improvements. The lake exhibits a strong temperature and oxygen stratification but does turn over in the spring and fall or is dimictic. It is the author's opinion the water body is meeting the warm water sport fish use designation and recommend Bass Lake to be delisted from the 303d list.
Date
10/18/2009
Impaired Water Notes
Note: Internal tracking lists "EAP" but still considered Category 5A
Date
4/1/2008
Impaired Water Notes
This water was assessed during the 2014 listing cycle; total phosphorus and chlorophyll-a data clearly met 2014 WisCALM Recreation and Fish and Aquatic Life thresholds.
Date
2/28/2014