Historical Description

Source: 1982, Surface Water Resources of Lincoln County Mohawksin Flowaqe. T34N. R6E, Sec. 4 Surface Acres = 1,909.6, Maximum Depth = 25 feet, Secchi Disc = 6 feet.

A soft water drainage lake (impoundment) on the Wisconsin River having slightly alkaline, medium brown waterof moderate transparency. The shoreline is 95 percent upland with some wetland. Littoral materials consist of 80 percent sand, 10 percent gravel and 10 percent muck. The fish population includes muskellunge, northern pike, walleye, largemouth bass and panfish. Migratory waterfowl use this flowage in the spring and fall, as well as nesting puddle ducks. Public access with parking is provided by the Town of Bradley. One town park, three resorts and 312 dwellings are located along the shoreline. The dam, which holds a head of 15 feet, is owned by the Wisconsin Public Service Corporation and used to generate electricity.

Date  1982

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Impaired Waters

Lake Mohawksin (WBIC 1515400) was listed for Mercury in fish tissue and Low DO in the water column in 1998. The Mercury listing was removed in 2008 based on new fish tissue samples. This water was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; new total phosphorus sample data were clearly below the 2018 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Recreation use and the Fish and Aquatic Life use. For the Fish Consumption use, new fish tissue analysis showed no need for specific fish consumption advisories for this lake. This water was considered impaired for Fish and Aquatic Life use.

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

Lake Mohawksin is located in the Noisy and Pine Creeks watershed which is 179.35 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (59.60%), wetland (28.70%) and a mix of grassland (3.60%) and other uses (8.10%). This watershed has 175.54 stream miles, 2,718.23 lake acres and 25,929.55 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked High for runoff impacts on streams, High 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.This water is ranked High Lake for individual Impoundments based on runoff problems and the likelihood of success from project implementation.