Racine
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No
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Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Wind Lake, in the Middle Fox River - Illinois Watershed, is a 919.27 acre lake that falls in Racine County. This lake is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently considered impaired.
Date 2011
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Managed for walleyes, northern pike, largemouth bass, and panfish. Carp are a major use problem on this large relatively shallow lake. Thirty-five percent of the basin is less than 3 feet deep and 20 percent is more than 20 feet. Access is provided at a town park and town road with parking. There is difficult access by way of the inlet or outlet. There are no public beaches. Boats are available at five liveries. The shore line is about 75 percent developed, the remainder being wet lowland presently unsuitable for development. A dam on the outlet maintains a three foot head. Approximately 68 acres of wetland lie along the shore. Source: 1961, Surface Water Resources of Racine County Wind Lake, Surface Acres = 821, S.D.F. = 1.40, Maximum Depth = 47 feet, (T-4-N, R-20-E, sec. 3, 4, 8, 9, 10, 16, 17).
Date 1961
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
Condition
Wisconsin has over 84,000 miles of streams, 15,000 lakes and milllions of acres of wetlands. Assessing the condition of this vast amount of water is challenging. The state's water monitoring program uses a media-based, cross-program approach to analyze water condition. An updated monitoring strategy (2015-2020) is now available. Compliance with Clean Water Act fishable, swimmable standards are located in the Executive Summary of Water Condition in 2018. See also the 'monitoring and projects' tab.
Reports
Recommendations
Land Acquisition
The Wind Lake Management District intends to acquire the Guhr property (approx. 21 acres) and the Schweitzer property (approx. 57 total including 4 ac. Easement) for lake protection benefits associated with Wind Lake in Racine County.
Lake Management Plan Development
The Wind Lake Management District will conduct an alum treatment program for Wind Lake in Racine County.
Land Acquisition
The Wind Lake Management District will acquire 58.278 acres of tiled, drained, and cropped land in the vicinty of Big Muskego and Wind Lakes for wetland restoration and lake protection purposes. Long term goals for this property include constructing wetland cells through wiich discharges from Big Muskego Lake would be directed, and allowing as much public access as possible to the property without jeopardizing the wetland complex.
Management Goals
Wisconsin's Water Quality Standards provide qualitative and quantitative goals for waters that are protective of Fishable, Swimmable conditions [Learn more]. Waters that do not meet water quality standards are considered impaired and restoration actions are planned and carried out until the water is once again fishable and swimmable
Management goals can include creation or implementation of a Total Maximum Daily Load analysis, a Nine Key Element Plan, or other restoration work, education and outreach and more. If specific recommendations exist for this water, they will be displayed below online.
Monitoring
Monitoring the condition of a river, stream, or lake includes gathering physical, chemical, biological, and habitat data. Comprehensive studies often gather all these parameters in great detail, while lighter assessment events will involve sampling physical, chemical and biological data such as macroinvertebrates. Aquatic macroinvertebrates and fish communities integrate watershed or catchment condition, providing great insight into overall ecosystem health. Chemical and habitat parameters tell researchers more about human induced problems including contaminated runoff, point source dischargers, or habitat issues that foster or limit the potential of aquatic communities to thrive in a given area. Wisconsin's Water Monitoring Strategy was recenty updated.
Grants and Management Projects
Monitoring Projects
| WBIC | Official Waterbody Name | Station ID | Station Name | Earliest Fieldwork Date | Latest Fieldwork Date | View Station | View Data |
|---|
| 761700 | Wind Lake | 523159 | Wind Lake - Northeast Bay | | | Map | Data |
| 761700 | Wind Lake | 10051065 | Wind Lake - Herbicide Site WL10 | 6/20/2018 | 7/2/2018 | Map | Data |
| 761700 | Wind Lake | 523170 | Wind Lake - Wind Lake | | | Map | Data |
| 761700 | Wind Lake | 10017995 | Wind Lake -- Access at Loomis Rd Sportsmans Landing | | | Map | Data |
| 761700 | Wind Lake | 10051063 | Wind Lake - Herbicide Site WL8 | 6/20/2018 | 7/2/2018 | Map | Data |
| 761700 | Wind Lake | 10007845 | Wind Lake | 8/7/1975 | 8/5/2019 | Map | Data |
| 761700 | Wind Lake | 10020930 | Wind Lake - North-East Shallows | | | Map | Data |
| 761700 | Wind Lake | 10030682 | Wind Lake Road off dock | 7/7/2009 | 7/7/2009 | Map | Data |
| 761700 | Wind Lake | 10017996 | Wind Lake -- Access Off Wind Lake Rd | 7/11/2003 | 10/27/2023 | Map | Data |
| 761700 | Wind Lake | 10051058 | Wind Lake - Herbicide Site WL4(t) | 6/20/2018 | 7/2/2018 | Map | Data |
| 761700 | Wind Lake | 10051055 | Wind Lake - Herbicide Site WL1(t) | 6/20/2018 | 7/2/2018 | Map | Data |
| 761700 | Wind Lake | 10051061 | Wind Lake - Herbicide Site WL6 | 6/20/2018 | 7/2/2018 | Map | Data |
| 761700 | Wind Lake | 10051062 | Wind Lake - Herbicide Site WL7 | 6/20/2018 | 7/2/2018 | Map | Data |
| 761700 | Wind Lake | 523124 | Wind Lake - Deep Hole | 9/19/1973 | 9/25/2024 | Map | Data |
| 761700 | Wind Lake | 10051056 | Wind Lake - Herbicide Site WL2(t) | 6/20/2018 | 7/2/2018 | Map | Data |
| 761700 | Wind Lake | 10051057 | Wind Lake - Herbicide Site WL3(t) | 6/20/2018 | 7/2/2018 | Map | Data |
| 761700 | Wind Lake | 10051059 | Wind Lake - Herbicide Site WL5(t) | 6/20/2018 | 7/2/2018 | Map | Data |
| 761700 | Wind Lake | 10051064 | Wind Lake - Herbicide Site WL9 | 6/20/2018 | 7/2/2018 | Map | Data |
| 761700 | Wind Lake | 10030313 | Wind Lake | 7/7/2009 | 9/14/2021 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Wind Lake is located in the Middle Fox River - Illinois watershed which is 247.72 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (35.50%), suburban (19.20%) and a mix of wetland (16.20%) and other uses (29.10%). This watershed has 316.41 stream miles, 6,810.35 lake acres and 22,750.85 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked High for runoff impacts on streams, Medium for runoff impacts on lakes and High for runoff impacts on groundwater and therefore has an overall rank of High. This value can be used in ranking the watershed or individual waterbodies for grant funding under state and county programs.This water is ranked High Lake for individual Lakes based on runoff problems and the likelihood of success from project implementation.