Water Detail - Upper Oconomowoc Lake, Oconomowoc River Watershed (UR09)

Upper Oconomowoc Lake, Oconomowoc River Watershed (UR09)

Upper Oconomowoc Lake (850100)

Size

43 Acres

Natural communities (stream and lake natural communities) represent model results that use predicted flow and temperature based on landscape features and related assumptions. Ranges of flow and temperature associated with specific aquatic life communities (fish, macroinvertebrates) help biologists identify appropriate resource management goals. Wisconsin Natural Communities.

Impounded Flowing Water

Year Last Monitored

This is the most recent date of monitoring data stored in SWIMS. Additional surveys for fish and habitat may be available subsequent to this date.

2024

General Condition

Good

County

Waukesha

Trout Water

Trout Waters are represented by Class I, Class II or Class III waters. These classes have specific ecological characteristics and management actions associated with them. For more information regarding Trout Classifications, see the Fisheries Trout Class Webpages.

Outstanding or Exceptional

Wisconsin has designated many of the state's highest quality waters as Outstanding Resource Waters (ORWs) or Exceptional Resource Waters (ERWs). Waters designated as ORW or ERW are surface waters which provide outstanding recreational opportunities, support valuable fisheries and wildlife habitat, have good water quality, and are not significantly impacted by human activities. ORW and ERW status identifies waters that the State of Wisconsin has determined warrant additional protection from the effects of pollution. These designations are intended to meet federal Clean Water Act obligations requiring Wisconsin to adopt an 'antidegradation' policy that is designed to prevent any lowering of water quality - especially in those waters having significant ecological or cultural value.

Impaired Water

A water is polluted or 'impaired' if it does not support full use by humans, wildlife, fish and other aquatic life and it is shown that one or more of the pollutant criteria are not met.

Fish and Aquatic Life

Current Use

The use the water currently supports. This is not a designation or classification; it is based on the current condition of the water. Information in this column is not designed for, and should not be used for, regulatory purposes.

Impounded Flowing Water

This classification includes waterbodies created by dams (mill ponds, reservoirs, flowages, and other impoundments) with a residence time of 14 days or more (under summer (June – Sept) mean low flow conditions with a 1 in 10 year recurrence interval (US EPA 2000)). Many natural lakes also have dams or water level control structures. However, to be included in the Impounded Flowing Waters category, the dam or water level control structure, must account for more than half of a waterbody’s maximum depth. Impoundments with a residence time of less than 14 days should be covered under the rivers and stream assessment methodology process.

Attainable Use

The use that the investigator believes the water could achieve through managing "controllable" sources. Beaver dams, hydroelectric dams, low gradient streams, and naturally occurring low flows are generally not considered controllable. The attainable use may be the same as the current use or it may be higher.

Default FAL

Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.

Designated Use

This is the water classification legally recognized by NR102 and NR104, Wis. Adm. Code. The classification determines water quality criteria and effluent limits. Waters obtain designated uses through classification procedures.

Default FAL

Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.

Overview

This section of the Oconomowoc River is 9.5 miles long, stretching from Friess Lake to North Lake. Little Friess Lake (14 acres) and Lowes Lake (25 acres) are shallow, natural kettle lakes through which the river flows.

Two impoundments, Monches Millpond (16 acres) and Funks Millpond (31 acres) are very shallow, with low excessive algae growth and high turbidity. Funk's Dam was removed in 1992. Additional information and existing water quality data are available on the previous impoundment site from WDNR upon request.

Date 2002

Author Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

Source: 1963, Surface Water Resources of Waukesha County Upper Oconomowoc Lake T8N, R17E, Section 35

A recent impoundment of the Oconomowoc River between Okauchee and Oconomowoc Lakes. Bass, pan fish and northern pike constitute the fishery. Access for launching is possible from a town road. The lake is bordered by an active subdivision and therefore, further shore development can be expected. This is one of the newer lakes in Wisconsin created for the express purpose of providing aquatic recreation and lake front housing.

Surface Acres = 42.8, S.D.F. 1.69, Maximum Depth = 11 feet

Date 1963

Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Upper Oconomowoc Lake, Oconomowoc River Watershed (UR09) Fish and Aquatic Life

Upper Oconomowoc Lake, Oconomowoc River Watershed (UR09) Recreation

Upper Oconomowoc Lake, Oconomowoc River Watershed (UR09) Fish Consumption

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

Upper Oconomowoc Lake, Waukesha County - Aquatic Plant Sampling Map (65 mpts)

2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments

2018 List of Healthy (Category 2) Waters

Final Assessment Data from TSI Package and Assessment Units 2018

AIS Early Detection 2011 Data Form Waukesha Upper Oconomowoc Lake 850100

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

Monitoring Projects

WBIC	Official Waterbody Name	Station ID	Station Name	Earliest Fieldwork Date	Latest Fieldwork Date	View Station	View Data
850100	Upper Oconomowoc Lake	10051532	Occonomowoc Lake - OL1	9/26/2018	10/4/2018	Map	Data
848200	Oconomowoc River	10054531	Oconomowoc River at Wisconsin Ave / HWY 16	10/15/2020	12/18/2023	Map	Data
850100	Upper Oconomowoc Lake	10017600	Upper Oconomowoc Lake -- Access	7/16/2004	8/11/2024	Map	Data
848200	Oconomowoc River	10017617	Okauchee Lake -- Access Nr End Of Road T	10/5/2004	7/22/2024	Map	Data
850300	Okauchee Lake	10017617	Okauchee Lake -- Access Nr End Of Road T	10/5/2004	7/22/2024	Map	Data
850100	Upper Oconomowoc Lake	10007252	Upper Oconomowoc Lake	6/1/1995	9/22/2017	Map	Data
850100	Upper Oconomowoc Lake	10039092	Upper Oconomowoc Lake near Oconomowoc WI	4/17/2002	9/24/2002	Map	Data
848200	Oconomowoc River	683446	Oconomowoc River - Near Oconomowoc WI	4/17/2002	9/24/2002	Map	Data
850100	Upper Oconomowoc Lake	10051531	Occonomowoc Lake - OL2	9/26/2018	10/4/2018	Map	Data

Watershed Characteristics

Upper Oconomowoc Lake is located in the Oconomowoc River watershed which is 130.86 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (24.90%), forest (19.70%) and a mix of wetland (16.90%) and other uses (38.40%). This watershed has 136.99 stream miles, 2,858.66 lake acres and 11,105.19 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked Not Available for runoff impacts on streams, Not Available 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.

Natural Community

Upper Oconomowoc Lake is considered a Impounded Flowing Water under the state's Natural Community Determinations.

Natural communities (stream and lake natural communities) represent model results and DNR staff valiation processes that confirm or update predicted conditions based on flow and temperature modeling from historic and current landscape features and related variables. Predicated flow and temperatures for waters are associated predicated fish assemblages (communities). Biologists evaluate the model results against current survey data to determine if the modeled results are corect and whether biological indicators show water quaity degradation. This analysis is a core component of the state's resource management framework. Wisconsin's Riverine Natural Communities.

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