Vilas
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Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Little Crooked Lake, in the Manitowish River Watershed, is a 153.67 acre lake that falls in Vilas County. This lake is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently considered impaired.
Date 2015
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Source: 1963, Surface Water Resources of Vilas County
Crooked (Little)Lake, T-42-N, R-6-E, Section 1, Area = 153 Surface
Acres, Maximum Depth = 20 feet
Little Crooked Lake is a highly fertile drainage lake. It has
clear, alkaline water of low to moderate transparency depending
somewhat upon algal response to the lake's fertility. The
bottommaterials consist of about equal amounts of sand and muck.
The inlet is small but the outlet is considered to be navigable.
The lake is basically a muskellunge-walleye lake with both species
being considered as abundant. Largemouth bass are also present as
are a variety of pan fish. There is an aquatic weed nuisance
problem in this lake. The lake offers good public use
opportunities. It has both navigable water access and difficult or
unimproved access which makes the lake available to the general
public and three resorts which provide further public use
opportunities. Boat rental facilities are available. There is but
one cottage or dwelling on the lake so that the aesthetic value of
this fine large lake is excellent. Muskrats are considered a
significant fur bearer, whereas little is known about the lake's
value to waterfowl.
Date 1963
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
Impaired Waters
Little Crooked Lake (2335500) was placed on the impaired waters list for total phosphorus/excess algal growth in 2014. The 2016 assessments showed continued excess algal growth; chlorophyll sample data exceed 2016 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Recreation use, however, total phosphorus did not exceed REC thresholds. Total phosphorus and chlorophyll data were clearly below Fish and Aquatic Life listing thresholds. Based on the most updated information, no change in existing impaired waters listing is needed.
Date 2015
Author Aaron Larson
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
| Project Name (Click for Details) | Year Started |
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Monitoring Projects
| WBIC | Official Waterbody Name | Station ID | Station Name | Earliest Fieldwork Date | Latest Fieldwork Date | View Station | View Data |
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| 2335500 | Little Crooked Lake | 10058609 | Little Crooked Lake - North Basin - Deep Hole | 6/12/2021 | 9/15/2021 | Map | Data |
| 2335500 | Little Crooked Lake | 10051491 | Little Crooked Lake, Vilas Co. - Inlet Hole | | | Map | Data |
| 2335500 | Little Crooked Lake | 10018176 | Little Crooked Lake -- Boat Ramp | 8/11/2011 | 7/15/2020 | Map | Data |
| 2335500 | Little Crooked Lake | 10006432 | Little Crooked Lake | 4/21/1999 | 6/17/2021 | Map | Data |
| 2335500 | Little Crooked Lake | 643237 | Little Crooked Lake - Deep Hole | 8/10/1984 | 8/19/2024 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Little Crooked Lake is located in the Manitowish River watershed which is 268.60 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (66.90%), wetland (19.10%) and a mix of open (13.30%) and other uses (0.70%). This watershed has 212.08 stream miles, 22,943.16 lake acres and 33,727.48 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Low for runoff impacts on streams, Low 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.