Green Lake
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Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Grand Lake (Millpond), in the Lower Grand River Watershed, is a 241.92 acre lake that falls in Green Lake County. This lake is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently considered impaired.
Date 2022
Author Ashley Beranek
Historical Description
Source: 1971, Surface Water Resources of Green Lake County Grand Lake T-14-N, R-11, 12-E, Sections 7, 18, 24 Surface Acres = 234.2; S.D.F. = 2.24 Maximum Depth = 7 feet.
This is a large, hard water impoundment on the Grand River located in the Village of Kingston. The dam is maintained and used by a local feed mill operator as a source of power. The littoral bottom material consists mostly of sand with silt deposits building up in many areas. Boulders and gravel beds are also present. Developments include thirty-five dwellings and two resorts. Two boat rentals are located within the village limits. A county access with parking is available on the northwest shore. The majority of the shoreline is marsh and pasture. Grand Lake has a troubled background. Although known for good fishing, siltation and carp combined to decrease the recreational value of this impoundment. However, conflicting interests between sportsmen and property owners prevented effective management. In 1969, the pond was drained and the entire Grand River system upstream was chemically treated to remove rough fish and undesirable panfish populations. The result was improved water clarity, and stocking provided a sport fishery consisting of largemouth bass, northern pike, bluegill, walleye, and perch. The presence of young-of-the-year carp and white suckers indicate the project was not completely successful. However, the improved predator population may keep rough fish populations under control for some time. Increased rooted aquatic plant growth for better waterfowl and game habitat developed after carp removal. The lake is heavily used by mallards, teal, and other dabblers as well as great blue herons and other wading birds. Muskrats are also present. The marsh outside the Kingston corporate limits is used for waterfowl hunting.
Date 1971
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
Impaired Waters
Grand Lake (Millpond) was evaluated in the 2022 cycle: phosphorus levels were above listing thresholds as outlined in 2022 WisCALM. This lake was added to the 2022 Impaired Waters List.
Date 2022
Author Ashley Beranek
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
Shoreland Monitoring, Assessment, Inventory
Green Lake County will conduct a land use and environmental resource inventory of the watershed surrounding Green Lake, Little Green Lake, and Lake Puckaway. The information from the study will be used to update the existing zoning and shoreland protection ordinances and to assess the need for a storm water management ordinance in the County, the stormwater management ordinance, if its need is determined, will be written
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 |
|---|
| 161100 | Grand Lake (Millpond) | 10002720 | Grand Lake | 7/27/1999 | 7/29/2021 | Map | Data |
| 161100 | Grand Lake (Millpond) | 10019263 | Grand Lake -- Access | 5/27/2011 | 5/27/2011 | Map | Data |
| 161100 | Grand Lake (Millpond) | 244002 | Grand Lake - Grand Lake | 4/19/2016 | 2/15/2017 | Map | Data |
| 161100 | Grand Lake (Millpond) | 10044562 | Grand Lake - Near Dam | 4/19/2016 | 2/15/2017 | Map | Data |
| 161100 | Grand Lake (Millpond) | 243024 | Grand Lake - Southwest Deep Area | 9/14/2017 | 9/30/2017 | Map | Data |
| 161100 | Grand Lake (Millpond) | 10049242 | Grand Lake - CLMN Site (Deepest Spot) | 10/8/2017 | 5/12/2021 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Grand Lake (Millpond) is located in the Lower Grand River watershed which is 109.39 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (44.50%), wetland (23.10%) and a mix of forest (15.90%) and other uses (16.50%). This watershed has 185.16 stream miles, 1,264.36 lake acres and 13,715.30 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Not Ranked for runoff impacts on streams, Not Ranked 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.However, all waters are affected by diffuse pollutant sources regardless of initial water quality. Applications for specific runoff projects under state or county grant programs may be pursued. For more information, go to surface water program grants.