Menominee
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Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Bass Lake, Upper, in the West Branch Wolf River Watershed, is a 114.38 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
Bass Lake (Upper) - T-30-N, R-13-E, Section 1
Surface Area = 120 acres, S.D.F. = 1.95, Maximum Depth = 47 feet
A hard water drainage lake having alkaline, clear water of
moderate transparency. Generally the littoral zone drops off
rapidly except oh a portion of the east shore. Sand is the
predominant littoral material with only a few areas of gravel and
muck. Marl deposits are located in the vicinity of the inlet
stream. A navigable inlet from Florence Lake (Langlade County)
enters the lake on the northwest shore. High wooded shores of
hemlock and hardwoods surround most of the lake. The navigable
outlet stream, and the inlet constitute the source of the West
Branch Wolf River. Submerged aquatic vegetation is dense in the
vicinities of the inlet and outlet. Approximately 90 per cent of
the surface area occupies the 10-47 foot depth zone with most of
this area greater than 20 feet deep. Smallmouth bass, green
sunfish, yellow perch, common shiner, common sucker, brook trout
and rainbow trout constitute the known fish population. Smallmouth
bass and trout provide the main angling interest. The trout
fishery in this lake is unique in that natural reproduction occurs
in the outlet stream and possibly the inlet stream thus affording
an opportunity for population recruitment. Oxygen profiles to the
35 foot level, and temperature profiles along with the present
trout population support the conclusion that during the summer this
environment is suited to cold-water species. Parasitism in the
warm-water fish population has been reported as severe. There are
no dwellings on this lake. A wilderness camping area is located
on the southwest shore. The lake's natural beauty creates an area
of high aesthetic value. A secondary company road is located at
the outlet and company tertiary roads also adjoin the lake at
several points. Waterfowl make limited use of this lake on their
fall migration.
Date 1963
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
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
| Project Name (Click for Details) | Year Started |
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Monitoring Projects
| WBIC | Official Waterbody Name | Station ID | Station Name | Earliest Fieldwork Date | Latest Fieldwork Date | View Station | View Data |
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| 352200 | Bass Lakes | 404002 | Bass Lake Lower (8013e12) | 8/1/1979 | 8/1/1979 | Map | Data |
| 352200 | Bass Lakes | 10003994 | Upper Bass Lake | 7/27/1999 | 9/30/2017 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Bass Lakes is located in the West Branch Wolf River watershed which is 266.11 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (75.50%), wetland (13.90%) and a mix of agricultural (4.70%) and other uses (6.10%). This watershed has 219.07 stream miles, 1,704.90 lake acres and 19,841.26 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Not Ranked for runoff impacts on streams, Not Ranked for runoff impacts on lakes and Low for runoff impacts on groundwater and therefore has an overall rank of Low. 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.