Middle Inlet, Middle Inlet and Lake Noquebay Watershed (GB09)
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Middle Inlet, Middle Inlet and Lake Noquebay Watershed (GB09)
Middle Inlet (526000)
14.30 Miles
3.78 - 18.08
Natural Community
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.
Cool-Cold Mainstem, Cool-Warm Mainstem
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.
2021
Excellent
 
Marinette
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.
Yes
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.
Yes
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.
No

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.
Supported Aquatic Life
Waters that support fish and aquatic life communities (healthy biological communities).
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.
Cold (Class I Trout)
Streams supporting a cold water sport fishery, or serving as a spawning area for salmonids and other cold water fish species through natural reproduction. Representative aquatic life communities, associated with these waters, generally require cold temperatures and concentrations of dissolved oxygen that remain above 6 mg/L. Since these waters are capable of supporting natural reproduction, a minimum dissolved oxygen concentration of 7 mg/L is required during times of active spawning and support of early life stages of newly-hatched fish.
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.
Cold
Streams capable of supporting a cold water sport fishery, or serving as a spawning area for salmonids and other cold water fish species. Representative aquatic life communities, associated with these waters, generally require cold temperatures and concentrations of dissolved oxygen that remain above 6 mg/L. Since these waters are capable of supporting natural reproduction, a minimum dissolved oxygen concentration of 7 mg/L is required during times of active spawning and support of early life stages of newly-hatched fish.

Overview

From Lake Noquebay to County Hwy X (mile 0 - 3.77) the Middle Inlet is classified as a Class II Trout stream. From County Hwy X to confluence of Elbow Creek, Meadow Brook, and Middle Inlet Creek (mile 3.78 - 18.08) the Middle Inlet is classified as a Class I Trout stream and an Outstanding Resource Water (ORW).

Date  2011

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Middle Inlet, Middle Inlet and Lake Noquebay Watershed (GB09) Fish and Aquatic LifeMiddle Inlet, Middle Inlet and Lake Noquebay Watershed (GB09) RecreationMiddle Inlet, Middle Inlet and Lake Noquebay Watershed (GB09) Fish Consumption

General Condition

Middle Inlet was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; new total phosphorus and biological (fish Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) scores) sample data were clearly below the 2018 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Fish and Aquatic Life use. This water was meeting this designated use 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

2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments
2018 List of Healthy (Category 2) Waters
Comprehensive 2018 River/Stream Water Quality Assessments
Middle Inlet, Middle Inlet Creek at Maple Beach Rd, Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form
Middle Inlet, Middle Inlet Moonshine/camp 5 Rd upstream, Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form
Middle Inlet, Middle Inlet Sweetheart City Rd , Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form
Middle Inlet, Middle Inlet Hwy A upstream, Wadeable Macroinvertebrate Field Form
2015 Total Phosphorus Monitoring Report - Upper Middle Inlet @Wayside Road
Middle Inlet River Graph of Fish Surveys, 2000-2010
Middle Inlet and Lake Noquebay Watershed Plan 2010 (GB09)

Recommendations

Lake Management Plan Implementation
Investigate the cause for the upward phosphorus trend in Lake Noquebay and implement practices to stabilize that increasing trend.
Monitor Targeted Area
Implement a monitoring strategy in the Middle Inlet and Lake Noquebay Watershed to provide adequate information on the status and trends in the fishery and impact of management actions.
Watershed Mapping or Assessment
Implement a monitoring strategy in the Middle Inlet and Lake Noquebay Watershed to provide adequate information on the status and trends in the fishery and impact of management actions.
Stormwater Planning, Implementation
Identify and implement strategies to buffer the effects of nonpoint source pollution impacting water quality and critical habitat in the watershed.
Protect Riparian or Shorelands
Continue to work with local units of government and riparian owners to further protect shorelands and manage shoreline development to protect habitat and water quality.
Citizen-Based Stream Monitoring
Continue to promote the citizen monitoring programs including monitoring for AIS and clean boat/clean water program.
Information and Education
Continue and strengthen educational programs to address aquatic resource issues within the Middle Inlet and Lake Noquebay Watershed.
Lakes Planning Grant
Promote AIS control and whole lake management planning with the use of the State AIS control grant and lake planning grant programs.
Habitat Restoration - Instream
Identify and investigate the causes of habitat loss or impairment and take corrective actions in the Middle Inlet and Lake Noquebay Watershed.
Monitor or Assess Watershed Condition
Identify and protect critical habitat in Middle Inlet and Lake Noquebay Watershed through basin planning and monitoring processes in concert with local citizens and partners.
Monitor Watershed (Status,Sources,Impairments)
Locate, identify and prioritize degraded habitat areas on the watershed’s trout streams and other sport fisheries for future restoration and improvement activities.
Protect Riparian or Shorelands
Middle Inlet habitat conservation recommendations: no removal of fallen trees along shoreline, maintain current habitat, maintain snag trees / cavity trees, and protect emergent vegetation
Monitor Fish Community
Conducted Fish Surveys-Middle Inlet

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
LAKE NOQUEBAY REHABILITATION DISTRICT: Lake Noquebay Comprehensive Management Plan2007
Fish Propagation Actions2001

Monitoring Projects

WBICOfficial Waterbody NameStation IDStation NameEarliest Fieldwork DateLatest Fieldwork DateView StationView Data
526000Middle Inlet10031087Middle Inlet Hwy 141 upstream1/1/20158/3/2021MapData
526000Middle Inlet383298Middle Inlet - Middle Inlet 0427-X10/27/200510/27/2005MapData
526000Middle Inlet383122Middle Inlet Creek - Middle Inlet Creek-At C.T.H. X. 1/30/19758/11/2016MapData
526000Middle Inlet10031084Middle Inlet at Nelson Rd upstream1/1/20151/1/2015MapData
526000Middle Inlet10031088Middle Inlet Hwy A upstream1/1/201510/3/2016MapData
526000Middle Inlet10031867Middle Inlet US HWY 419/21/20101/1/2015MapData
526000Middle Inlet10031085Middle Inlet Sweetheart City Rd 7/28/200410/17/2016MapData
526000Middle Inlet383297Middle Inlet at Camp 5 Rd 10/27/20057/11/2016MapData
526000Middle Inlet10011799Middle Inlet - Middle Inlet Remap 0427MapData
526000Middle Inlet10031081Middle Inlet Moonshine/camp 5 Rd upstream10/14/199210/17/2016MapData
526000Middle Inlet10031083Middle Inlet at Hwy X upstreamMapData

Watershed Characteristics

Middle Inlet is located in the Middle Inlet and Lake Noquebay watershed which is 155.58 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (45%), wetland (34.60%) and a mix of agricultural (8.80%) and other uses (11.50%). This watershed has 145.85 stream miles, 3,254.49 lake acres and 28,278.00 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked Not Ranked for runoff impacts on streams, High for runoff impacts on lakes and Medium for runoff impacts on groundwater and therefore has an overall rank of Medium. 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

Middle Inlet is considered a Cool-Cold Mainstem, Cool-Warm Mainstem 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.

Cool (Cold-Transition) Mainstem streams are moderate-to-large but still wadeable perennial streams with cold to cool summer temperatures. Coldwater fishes are common to uncommon, transitional fishes are abundant to common, and warm water fishes are uncommon to absent. Headwater species are common to absent, mainstem species are abundant to common, and river species are common to absent.

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