Comus Lake, Turtle Creek Watershed (LR01)
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Comus Lake (794200)
130.76 Acres
Natural Community
Reservoir
Year Last Monitored
2023
Poor
 
This is impaired
Excess Algal Growth, Eutrophication
Total Phosphorus
 
Walworth
Trout Water 
No
Outstanding or Exceptional 
No
Impaired Water 
Yes

Fish and Aquatic Life

Current Use
Restricted Aquatic Life
Attainable Use
Default FAL
Designated Use
Default FAL

Overview

Comus Lake is a 164-acre lake in Walworth County with a maximum and mean depth of six feet and four feet, respectively. With this large size and shallow depth, fish kills occur. Other problems the lake encounters include: urban stormwater runoff and polluted agricultural runoff from the lake's immediate watershed, including the city of Delavan. While the lake is located northeast of Delavan, one-half of the lake's acreage is located in the city's sewer service area and the lake's northern shoreline will be sewered in the future (SEWRPC). The lake has recently undergone dredging by the Comus lake management organization. The lake also experiences in-lake and shoreline habitat loss or degradation, turbidity from stormwater and agricultural runoff, and aquatic plants dominate the lake's littoral zone. An endangered rattlesnake was sighted at the lake in the 1980s. In 1995 SEWRPC recommended that the Lake Comus Sanitary District participate in WDNR Self-Help Monitoring to collect water quality data.

Rock River Water Quality Management Plan, Lower Rock River Appendix. WT-668-2002. South Central Region, WDNR.

Date  2002

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

An impoundment on Turtle Branch managed for largemouth bass and panfish. Northern Pike, yellow perch, rough fishes, and bullheads are also present. Major Northern pike, problems are weeds which choke the entire lake and winterkill, which occurs infrequently. The city of Delavan maintains a park with good access for fishing boats; however, for swimming a smaller impoundment on Turtle Creek is relied upon. There are no boat liveries and no shore dwellings on this lake fair indication of the little importance given to the fishery.

Surface Acres = 117, S.D.F. = 3.36, Maximum Depth = 8ft
Source: 1961, Surface Water Resources of Walworth County,WI: WI-DNR Comus Lake T-2-N, R-16-E

Date  1961

Author   Aquatic Biologist

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Fish and Aquatic Life communities are not fully supported in this ecosystem.
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.
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.
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.
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.