Overview

Bear Lake , in the Otter Creek and Rat River Watershed, is a 66.33 acre lake that falls in Forest County. This lake is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently considered impaired.

Date  2016

Author  Ashley Beranek

Historical Description

Source: 1977, Surface Water Resources of Forest County Bear Lake, T35N, R6E, Sec. 17 Surface Acres = 68, Maximum Depth = 24 feet, Secchi disk = 7 feet.

A hard water drainage lake having slightly alkaline, medium brown water of moderate transparency. The inlet is connected to Shabodock Lake and the outlet is a navigable stream flowing to the Rat River. An old rock dam is located on the outlet stream. Bottom types in the littoral zone consist of rubble (50 percent), sand (20 percent), muck (20 percent), boulder (5 percent) and gravel (5 percent). The immediate shoreline is mostly upland hardwood with some conifer (90 percent) and wetland (10 percent) of shrub bog with hardwood and meadow. Fish species present include northern pike, largemouth bass, perch, bluegill and black crappie. Muskrat are also present. Aquatic vegetation is moderate. A public campground and one dwelling are located on the shoreline. A public boat landing is located in the northwest corner of the lake. There is 0.91 mile of public shoreline, controlled by the U.S. Forest Service.

Date  1977

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Impaired Waters

Bear Lake (WBIC 552100) was placed on the impaired waters list for excess algal growth in 2016. The 2018 assessments showed continued excess algal growth; new chlorophyll-a sample data exceeded 2018 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Recreation use. Total phosphorus data were clearly below the Recreation use and Fish and Aquatic Life use listing thresholds. Based on the most updated information, no change in the existing impaired waters listing was needed.

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

Recommendations

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

Watershed Characteristics

Bear Lake is located in the Otter Creek and Rat River watershed which is 141.51 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (73.60%), wetland (20.50%) and a mix of open (2.70%) and other uses (3.10%). This watershed has 139.69 stream miles, 2,907.05 lake acres and 15,033.81 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.