Whitefish Lake in Douglas County, Wisconsin is a remarkable water resource situated in a unique region. This plan reviews the research and reporting recently completed on the lake’s water quality, ecology and socioeconomic situation to synthesize a strategic framework for lake improvement and protection. Whitefish Lake is a large, deep, oligotrophic lake with a small watershed and a rich ecology of plants and animals. Lakeshore owners and visitors hold the lake in high regard, and many people have already taken steps to proactively ensure its long-term health. Owing to the lake’s current excellent water quality, much of what needs to happen on the lake’s behalf is defensive in nature. The overarching goal for this plan is to maintain and protect the present conditions at Whitefish Lake, including its admirable water quality, unique biodiversity and essential ecological functions. Core strategies for reaching this goal include continuing lake monitoring, preventing aquatic invasive species and limiting unnecessary changes to the lake’s watershed. Ongoing efforts to build institutional strength and resilience among stakeholders will aid in reaching the goal, as will an increasing level of awareness and understanding about the lake’s ecology and the threats it faces.

Ongoing monitoring of the lake demonstrated that its water quality began to degrade (increased phosphorus and chlorophyll a concentrations) around 2002 following a period of high water level. To provide a better understanding of what caused the degradation in water quality, and provide information to better understand the lake and protect it from future degradation, the U.S. Geological Survey did a detailed study from 2004 to 2008. The goals of the study were to describe the past and present water quality of the lake, quantify water and phosphorus budgets for the lake, simulate the potential effects of changes in phosphorus inputs on the lake's water quality, analyze changes in the water level in the lake since 1900, and relate the importance of changes in climate and changes in anthropogenic (human-induced) factors in the watershed to the water quality of the lake.

Final Report on the Zooplankton Community Composition in Whitefish Lake - part of LPT-271-05

PUB-SS-1028 2006. Three sediment cores were each collected from the North and South Basins of Whitefish Lake. Cores were dated by the 210-Pb method. The diatom community was analyzed to assess changes in nutrient levels and changes in the macrophyte community.

Summary of data collected from 2005 interviews with property owners on Whitefish Lake (Douglas County). Includes photos, maps, tables, and graphs.

The Whitefish Lake Conservation Organization, in cooperation with the US Geological Survey, Wis. Dept. of Nat. Res., and private consultants, will conduct a comprehensive diagnostic/feasibility study of Silver Lake and it's watershed and develop a lake management plan. The project includes the following activities; (1) the USGS will conduct an assessment of the lake's hydrology and water quality and model lake responses to management scenarios, (2) the DNR [Integ. Sci. Serv.] will conduct a lake bottom sediment core study to determine historical conditions and changes in lake water quality over time, (3) consultant Susan Cray Borman will conduct an aquatic plant survey and develop management recommendations, and (4) consultant Eric Olson will coordinate and compile the results of these studies into planning reports and action plans as well as provide for project public communication, input (through surveys and working groups) and education.

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The Whitefish Lake Conservation Organization, in cooperation with the US Geological Survey, Wis. Dept. of Nat. Res., and private consultants, will conduct a comprehensive diagnostic/feasibility study of Silver Lake and it's watershed and develop a lake management plan.