Land use map

data

Survey forms and results.

In 2009, the Granite Lake Association (GLA) and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) authorized a series of whole-lake plant surveys as a prerequisite to developing an Aquatic Plant Management Plan (APMP). Although those surveys found that the exotic invasive species Curly-leaf pondweed (Potamogeton crispus) (CLP) occurred in scattered locations throughout the lake’s spring littoral zone, it was decided that the low growth levels did not justify active management.

PI survey

CLP only survey

The protocol used in this survey was developed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) as a way to evaluate shoreline habitat. This survey is intended to provide management recommendations to individual property owners based on the evaluation of their property. This protocol involves photographing each parcel from the lake which is then matched to land use information about the riparian zone. For this survey, the riparian zone is defined as the strip of land, along the shore, from the high water level back 35 feet. The information collected includes ground cover which includes lawn, impervious surfaces, and native plants. Additional land use information includes the number of human structures in the riparian zone and various other runoff concerns. This protocol also assesses the amount of woody debris present in the lake however this is done for the entire lake instead of for each individual parcel. Woody debris provides habitat for fish, birds, and numerous other types of wildlife as well in addition to providing some protecting from bank erosion. This protocol defines woody debris as wood in no deeper than 2 feet of water that is at least 4 inches in diameter, at the widest point, and at least 5 feet long.

The protocol used in this survey was developed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) as a way to evaluate shoreline habitat. This survey is intended to provide management recommendations to individual property owners based on the evaluation of their property. This protocol involves photographing each parcel from the lake which is then matched to land use information about the riparian zone. For this survey, the riparian zone is defined as the strip of land, along the shore, from the high water level back 35 feet. The information collected includes ground cover which includes lawn, impervious surfaces, and native plants. Additional land use information includes the number of human structures in the riparian zone and various other runoff concerns. This protocol also assesses the amount of woody debris present in the lake however this is done for the entire lake instead of for each individual parcel. Woody debris provides habitat for fish, birds, and numerous other types of wildlife as well in addition to providing some protecting from bank erosion. This protocol defines woody debris as wood in no deeper than 2 feet of water that is at least 4 inches in diameter, at the widest point, and at least 5 feet long.

This nutrient and water budget model utilized Bathtub reservoir model created by the US Army Corp of Engineers. It is a steady-state, mass balance empirical model. The focus for nutrient budget was phosphorus, which likely limits algae production in Granite Lake. This model is based on very limited data, so calibration is difficult and some assumptions were made to make the nutrients and water balance over the averaging period (0.58 years) of the growing season. Therefore, this initial model should be used with caution for making major management decisions. To better determine a more accurate budget of water and nutrients, more extensive and additional data would need to be collected.

Granite Lake Sediment Release Estimate-2018

The Granite Lake Association is sponsoring a water quality planning project for Granite Lake. Project deliverables include GIS data & maps of areas monitored; water quality, flow, and precipitation data, shoreline and woody habitat monitoring data and report, watershed modeling, aquatic plant data and reports, and a Comprehensive Lake Management Plan that meets the requirements of NR 191.45. Specific project activities include: 1) In-lake chemistry monitoring; 2) Tributary chemistry and flow monitoring; 3) Precipitation monitoring; 4) Shoreline and woody habitat monitoring; 5) CBCW watercraft inspection; 6) Spring and summer whole lake point intercept aquatic plant surveys; 7) Watershed modeling; 8) Sociological survey; 9) Comprehensive Lake Management Plan.