Oconto
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Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Ocontao Falls Pond, in the Lower Oconto River Watershed, is a 179.94 acre lake that falls in Oconto County. This lake is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently not considered impaired.
Date 2011
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Source: 1977, Surface Water Resources of Oconto County Oconto Falls Pond, T28N, R19E, Section 26
A hard water drainage lake (impoundment) on the Oconto River havingslightly alkaline, light brown water of low transparency. The entire shoreline is upland, consisting primarily of mixed hardwoods and conifers, with a limited area of cleared land. Littoral materials are sand (60 percent), muck (35 percent), and gravel (5 percent). Waterfowl make some use of this flowage on their spring and fall migrations. Fish species inhabiting this flowage include walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, bluegill, pumpkinseed, rock bass, black crappie, perch and carp. Public access with parking is provided by the Town of Oconto Falls, and public access without parking is provided by the City of Oconto Falls. Thirty-seven dwellings are located on the shoreline. The dam has a head of 28 feet and is maintained by the Wisconsin-Michigan Power Company.
Surface Acres = 167.0, Maximum Depth = 28 feet, Secchi Disk = 4 feet
Date 1977
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
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 |
|---|
| 449300 | Oconto Falls Pond | 10041382 | Oconto Falls Pond - West Side Beach Boat Ramp | | | Map | Data |
| 449300 | Oconto Falls Pond | 10048301 | Oconto Falls Pond - Dam Headwater | 7/11/2014 | 9/26/2014 | Map | Data |
| 449300 | Oconto Falls Pond | 10001347 | Oconto Falls Pond | 7/27/1999 | 9/23/2019 | Map | Data |
| 449300 | Oconto Falls Pond | 10044716 | Oconto Falls Pond - Deep Hole | 6/16/2016 | 9/10/2018 | Map | Data |
| 449300 | Oconto Falls Pond | 10019125 | Oconto Falls Flowage - Oconto River -- Access | 7/25/2013 | 7/25/2013 | Map | Data |
| 449300 | Oconto Falls Pond | 10019124 | Oconto Falls Pond - Oconto River -- Access | 7/17/2004 | 7/25/2013 | Map | Data |
| 5536174 | Unnamed | 10052235 | Unamed Lake Near Oconto Falls Pond | 2/27/2019 | 2/27/2019 | Map | Data |
| 449300 | Oconto Falls Pond | 10014951 | Oconto Falls Pond_General Lake Station | 6/14/1994 | 9/12/2006 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Oconto Falls Pond is located in the Lower Oconto River watershed which is 196.48 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (33.70%), agricultural (25.80%) and a mix of wetland (23.90%) and other uses (16.60%). This watershed has 314.34 stream miles, 3,972.16 lake acres and 24,684.40 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Low 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.