Ozaukee, Sheboygan
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Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Spring Lake, in the North Branch Milwaukee River Watershed, is a 60.19 acre lake that falls in Ozaukee and Sheboygan Counties. This lake is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently not considered impaired.
Date 2011
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Random Lake and the outlet of Spring Lake drain the Random Lake Subwatershed. Spring Lake is the only water
Spring Lake Subwatershed and is included in the discussion with Random Lake. Both are located in the
eastern portion of the watershed.
Water Resources. The Random Lake Subwatershed includes Random Lake and the outlet of Spring Lake. Random
Lake is a 209-acre drainage lake, with a maximum depth of 21 feet. The contributing watershed is predominanliiy
rural, except for the Village of Random Lake and a developing industrial park to the east of Random Lake. For the
most part, Random Lake is shallow, the deepest part occurring in the southern basin. The northern half of the lake is
shallow and aquatic vegetation is common.
Calculated phosphorus loading to the lake is greater than that calculated to be "acceptable" to control eutrophication.
Although 80% of the lake bottom has been colonized by aquatic vegetation, dense beds occur mostly in the northern
basin. Dissolved oxygen depletion occurs during the summer and winter stratification periods. Dissolved oxygen 1s less
than 2 mgL below 15 feet in both periods. Recreational boating on Random Lake stirs bottom sediment,
resuspending nutrients and contributing to cloudy water.
Because of the good water quality in Spring Lake, discharge from the Spring Lake outlet is not a concern to Wandog2
Lake.
The Spring Lake Subwatershed contains Spring Lake and no perennial or intermittent tributaries. As the name
implies, this 57-acre lake is spring-fed, has a maximum depth of 20 feet and lies in glacial outwash and terminal
moraine. The shoreline is mostly undeveloped, consisting of wooded wetlands. Access to Spring Lake is available for d
fee.
No bacterial data are available, but full-body contact recreation occurs. Although there are only three year-round
residences, the potential exists with these soils for failing septic systems to contribute nutrients and fecal matter in the
lake.
The calculated phosphorus loading to Spring Lake is currently far less than that calculated to be "acceptable" or
"excessive." Dissolved oxygen is above 2 mg/L at all depths in the summer and winter. Overall, the summer
chlorophyll 2 in Spring Lake is low. Observed chlorophyll is, however, higher than that predicted bzed on the
calculated phosphorus loading. This could reflect some impact from septic systems. Spring Lake has a well-balanced
aquatic plant population with sparse distribution of macrophytes.
Fisheries. Random Lake currently supports a warm-water sport fishery dominated by hybrid muskellunge, largemouth
bass, northern pike and panfish. In addition, walleye have also been stocked and afford a limited fishery. Panfish
populations, particularly black crappie are stunted and may be a symptom of overharvest of predator species, a growing
problem on many area lakes. Residents have also raised concerns regarding carp populations, turbidity, excessive boat
traffic and suspected competition between stocked fish species. Overall, habitat quality is good and suggests that
over harvest of predator populations may be the most important factor limiting a balanced and sustainable sport fishery.
Spring Lake is also classified as a warm-water sport fishery and supports largemouth bass, northern pike and panfish.
However little more is known about the speicies composition or structure of the fish community. Fee access is
avalible on the west shore. Water and habitat quality are considered excellent.
Date 1990
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
Historical Description
Source: 1963 Surface Water Resources of Ozaukee County Spring Lake T21N, R21E, Sections 2, 3 Surface Acres = 66.4, S.D.F. = 1.49, Maximum Depth = 20 feet.
A small, natural, spring-fed lake. The north end is outwash sand and gravel and the south end is within the terminal moraine of the Lake Michigan Glacier. Bottom material is predominantly marlwith sand intermixed. Most of the shoreline is sparsely wooded and a shrub marsh exists on the southeast corner. Public access is not available. Fee access with boat rental is available on the north side. Three year-round homes are present. Largemouth bass, northern pike and panfish provide fishing. Dense submergent weed growth creates a problem and may call for treatment in the future. Fair numbers of mallards, blue-winged teal and wood ducks utilize the lake for both nesting and migration. Hunting is permitted.
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
Monitoring Projects
| WBIC | Official Waterbody Name | Station ID | Station Name | Earliest Fieldwork Date | Latest Fieldwork Date | View Station | View Data |
|---|
| 30500 | Spring Lake | 463075 | Spring Lake - Deep Hole | 9/18/1980 | 9/2/1997 | Map | Data |
| 30500 | Spring Lake | 10004744 | Spring Lake | 6/1/1997 | 7/29/2017 | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Spring Lake is located in the North Branch Milwaukee River watershed which is 149.67 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (45.40%), grassland (20.30%) and a mix of wetland (15.50%) and other uses (18.80%). This watershed has 159.81 stream miles, 886.38 lake acres and 13,793.69 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked High for runoff impacts on streams, High 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.