To understand a lake and its water quality, fish and wildlife, and recreational opportunities, we need to understand its physical characteristics and setting within the surrounding landscape. Silver Lake is located in the city of Portage, with one public boat landing located on the east side of the west basin. Silver Lake is a 74-acre spring lake with groundwater, surface runoff and precipitation contributing most of its water and the water leaving through a wetland complex on the east side of the lake. The maximum depth is 42 feet in the west basin and 16 feet in the east basin; the lakebed has a moderate slope (Figure 1) and its bottom sediments are mostly muck with areas of sand.

Columbia County LWCD, with participation by City of Portage and UW-Extension, Stevens Point will conduct a comprehensive data collection and planning effort to improve Silver Lake. Two grants work together for this goal. This grant will survey the aquatic plants and water quality of both basins, and characterize the watershed. They will conduct a shoreland inventory, and a groundwater investigation will be performed. All these results will be used to understand the watershed and lake in Phase 2.