Oconto
No
No
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Townsend Flow (Wheeler Imp), in the Lower North Branch Oconto River Watershed, is a 444.52 acre lake that falls in Oconto County. This lake is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently not considered impaired.
Date 2011
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Source: 1977, Surface Water Resources of Oconto County Lower Wheeler Pond, T33N, R15E, Section 22
A medium hard water drainage lake (impoundment) on McCaslin Brook having slightly acid, light brown water of moderate transparency. The entire shoreline is upland, consisting of hardwoods. The littoral zone is composed of muck (68 percent), sand (25 percent), gravel (5 percent) and rubble (2 percent). Waterfowl make moderate use of this flowage on their spring and fall migrations. Submergent aquatic vegetation is moderate in density in about half of the lake basin. The fish population consists of northern pike, largemouth bass, bluegill, pumpkinseed, black crappie and perch. Navigable water type public access is available from Upper Wheeler Flowage. One hundred twenty-nine dwellings and four resorts are located on the shoreline. Upper Wheeler Pond, T33N, R15E, Section 15 Surface Acres = 140.4, Maximum Depth = 10 feet, Secchi Disk 8 feet A hard water drainage lake (impoundment) on McCaslin Brook having neutral, light brown water of moderate transparency. Littoral materials consist of muck (75 percent), sand (15 percent), and gravel (10 percent). Waterfowl make moderate use of this lake on their spring and fall migrations and some puddle ducks nest here. The fish population includes northern pike, largemouth bass, bluegill, pumpkinseed, black crappie, perch, bullhead andwhite sucker. Dense floating vegetation and moderately dense submergent vegetation occupy most of the littoral zone. Unimproved or difficult public access is available from a town road. Sixty-nine dwellings, one resort, and a boat rental are located on the shoreline.
Surface Acres = 303.0, Maximum Depth = 27 feet, Secchi Disk = 9 feet
Date 1977
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
General Condition
Townsend Flow (Wheeler lmp) (WBIC 465000) was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; new total phosphorus and chlorophyll-a sample data were clearly below the 2018 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Recreation use and the Fish and Aquatic Life use. This water was meeting these designated uses and was not considered impaired.
Date 2017
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 |
|---|
| 465000 | Townsend Flowage | 433085 | Townsend Flowage - Deep Spot | 7/28/1996 | 11/7/2024 | Map | Data |
| 465000 | Townsend Flowage | 10019100 | Townsend Flowage -- Access Nr Sunset Bay Ln | 7/1/2006 | 5/30/2015 | Map | Data |
| 465000 | Townsend Flowage | 433326 | Townsend Flowage - Sf1 | 5/10/1994 | 8/16/1994 | Map | Data |
| 465000 | Townsend Flowage | 10056808 | Townsend Flowage - T-2 | 7/12/2022 | 11/7/2024 | Map | Data |
| 465000 | Townsend Flowage | 10056807 | Townsend Flowage - T-1 | 7/12/2022 | 7/19/2022 | Map | Data |
| 465000 | Townsend Flowage | 10001372 | Townsend Flowage | 7/27/1999 | 6/5/2018 | Map | Data |
| 465000 | Townsend Flowage | 10031285 | Townsend Flowage -- Access at Bennett Lane | 4/2/2010 | 8/19/2023 | Map | Data |
| 465000 | Townsend Flowage | 10012258 | Townsend Flowage - North Basin Deep Spot | 6/21/2006 | 9/20/2006 | Map | Data |
| 465000 | Townsend Flowage | 10031287 | Townsend Flowage -- Access at Hwy 32 | 6/1/2011 | 7/25/2014 | Map | Data |
| 465000 | Townsend Flowage | 10056809 | Townsend Flowage - T-3 | 7/12/2022 | 7/19/2022 | Map | Data |
| 465000 | Townsend Flowage | 10018942 | Townsend Flowage -- Access Nr McCaslin Landing Rd | 7/23/2000 | 8/29/2015 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Townsend Flowage is located in the Lower North Branch Oconto River watershed which is 389.28 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (68.90%), wetland (22.60%) and a mix of agricultural (2.90%) and other uses (5.70%). This watershed has 410.78 stream miles, 5,377.75 lake acres and 51,397.21 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Low 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.