Menominee
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Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Sapokesick Lake, in the Lower Oconto River Watershed, is a 211.45 acre lake that falls in Menominee County. This lake is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently not considered impaired.
Date 2011
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Source: 1963, Surface Water Resources of Menominee County
Blacksmith Lake - T-28-N, R-16-E, Section 16
Surface Area = 98.8 acres, S.D.F. - 1.51, Maximum Depth = 64 feet
A hard water drainage lake having alkaline, clear water of
high transparency. Littoral materials consist mostly of sand with
the exception of the north shore where muck is predominant. Most
of the shore line is of the upland type with oak, aspen and white
birch the dominant vegetation. A shrubmarsh wetland exists where
the main drainage system enters and leaves the lake. Both the
inlet and outlet streams are navigable. Approximately 1/3 of the
lake's area is in excess of 40 feet deep. Aquatic vegetation, with
the exception of submerged types is sparse. Chara is abundant in
the littoral areas. Northern pike, largemouth bass, pumpkinseed,
bluegill, perch and bullhead comprise the known fish population.
The inlet from Little Blacksmith and the outlet to Sapokesick with
their adjoining wetlands provide adequate spawning facilities for
northern pike. Retention of these areas in their natural state is
essential if the northern pike fishery is to be maintained. Five
dwellings and one trailer house are located on the shore line.
Tertiary company roads adjoin the lake at several locations.
Waterfowl make some use of the lake during their fall migration.
Date 1963
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
General Condition
Blacksmith Lake (Sapokesick Lake) (340500) was assessed during the 2016 listing cycle; total phosphorus and chlorophyll sample data were clearly below 2016 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Recreation use and Fish and Aquatic Life use. This water is meeting these designated uses and is not considered impaired.
Date 2015
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
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 |
|---|
| 340500 | Blacksmith Lake | 403110 | Legend Lake - Blacksmith Deep Hole | 6/28/2000 | 8/14/2024 | Map | Data |
| 340500 | Blacksmith Lake | 10047709 | Residual monitoiring Southern end | 5/24/2017 | 6/20/2017 | Map | Data |
| 340500 | Blacksmith Lake | 10003983 | Blacksmith Lake | 7/27/1999 | 7/30/2018 | Map | Data |
| 340500 | Blacksmith Lake | 10034666 | Legend Lake | 7/16/2011 | 7/16/2011 | Map | Data |
| 339800 | Legend Lake | 10052935 | LEGEND LAKE_GENERAL LAKE STATION | 7/8/2022 | 7/19/2023 | Map | Data |
| 340500 | Blacksmith Lake | 10029807 | Legend Lake (Whole Lake) | 4/11/2008 | 6/20/2017 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Blacksmith Lake 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.