Green Lake
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Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Maria Lake, in the Lower Grand River Watershed, is a 563.11 acre lake that falls in Green Lake County. This lake is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently not considered impaired.
Date 2011
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Source: 1971, Surface Water Resources of Green Lake County Lake Maria T-14-N, R-12-E, Sections 23, 36 Surface Acres = 596; S.D.F, = 1.14 Maximum Depth = 6 feet.
This large hard water lake is landlocked except that during very wet years there is an outlet flow into the Grand River system. Springs are present, but seepage provides most of the water supply. Bottom materials consist primarily of muck and sand. Due to the extreme shallowness the lake is subject to frequent severe winterkills and the establishment of a sport fishery is difficult. The lake supports bullheads, a few panfish, and perhaps some carp. The lake is used mostly by waterfowl, especially in the spring when an estimated 5,000 migrants stop here. Waterfowl hunting is heavy early in the fall season. Muskrats are plentiful and have provided good trapping. A good public access with adequate parking and an improved boat ramp is available on the west side of the lake. The lake is located in an agricultural watershed. Some bank erosion is taking place as a result of cattle trampling the shore. Development is limited to five farms; there are no cottages.
Date 1971
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
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 |
|---|
| 161900 | Lake Maria | 10002721 | Lake Maria | 7/27/1999 | 7/22/2020 | Map | Data |
| 161900 | Lake Maria | 10019484 | Lake Maria -- Access | 6/28/2005 | 8/27/2015 | Map | Data |
| 161900 | Lake Maria | 244001 | Maria Lake - Maria Lake | | | Map | Data |
| 161900 | Lake Maria | 243016 | Maria Lake - Deep Hole | | | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Lake Maria 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.