Fish Lake, Roxbury Creek Watershed (LW18)
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Fish Lake, Roxbury Creek Watershed (LW18)
Fish Lake (985100)
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198.60 Acres
Natural Community
Two-Story
Year Last Monitored
2024
Poor
 
This lake is impaired
Excess Algal Growth, Eutrophication
Total Phosphorus
 
Dane
Trout Water 
No
Outstanding or Exceptional 
No
Impaired Water 
Yes

Fish and Aquatic Life

Current Use
Restricted Aquatic Life
Attainable Use
Default FAL
Designated Use
Default FAL

Overview

Fish Lake is a 216-acre pothole lake on the edge of the unglaciated driftless area of
Wisconsin. The lake is fairly deep, with a maximum depth of 62 feet. The lake is a seepage
lake with no inlet or outlet streams. Northern pike, largemouth bass and panfish dominate the
fishery. It has been considered a mesotrophic lake, but declining water quality and habitat are
pushing it toward eutrophic status. Fish Lake had some of the best water quality among Dane
County lakes in the early 1980s. Since then, the lake has experienced a decline in water
clarity, and lower dissolved oxygen readings as a result of increased surface water runoff.
DCRPC has ranked Fish Lake high for possible selection as a nonpoint source priority lake
watershed project. The lake has a high population of cisco, a cold water fish related to
salmon, which need cold water and high dissolved oxygen. The declining quality of the water
in the lake has led to occasional fishkills.
The surrounding landuse is over 60% agriculture. Factors contributing to the decline of the
lake are believed to be the lack of adequate buffer zones, poor animal waste management and
farm management practices, organic loading and sedimentation of the southwest bay, and
excessive Eurasian water milfoil growth in the lake. An Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) Clean Lakes research project was conducted on the lake and a lake management plan
was completed in 1996. The lake is also a long-term trends monitoring lake through the
WDNR's lakes management program. WDNR and Dane County Parks have been conducting
shoreline habitat and riparian area improvement work on Fish Lake. As a part of this work,
several trees have selectively been knocked into the lake to create shoreline habitat. In
addition, black locust trees, an invasive exotic species, has been removed and there have been
efforts to re-establish American locust. These efforts, as well as the successful acquisition of
Lussier Park on the eastern shoreline should have a positive impact on the lake.
Another factor affecting the management of the lake is that over the past 25 years, the lake **18** s
water level has risen. A study, funded by a Lake Planning Grant and conducted by USGS and
the Dane County Lakes and Watershed Management, was being done over the last year and a
half. The study was examining options to help reduce the problems being caused by Fish
Lake **18** s high stage condition, such as flooding of roads and residences. The study will help
evaluate options of how to manage the problem, whether it be pumping water out of the lake
or diverting surface water from the lake. Another study is being conducted simultaneously to
determine how these options would or could affect Crystal Lake. The lake has a lake
association that was organized in 1998.

Date  2002

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

Fish Lake is a pothole lake on the edge of the unglaciated driftless area of Wisconsin.
The lake is fairly deep, with a nlaximum depth of 62 feet. It has been considered a
mesotrophic lake, but declining water quality and habitat are pushing it toward
eutrophic status (Marshall, 1992). Fish Lake had some of the best water quality among
Dane County lakes in the early 1980s. Since then, the lake has experienced a decline in
water clarity, lower dissolved oxygen readings and occasional fishkills. Problems
identified as contributing to the decline of the lake are lack of adequate buffer zones,
animal waste managenlent and farm management practices, organic loading and
sedimentation of the southwest bay, and excessive eurasian water milfoil growth in the
lake (WDNR, 1991). An Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Clean Lakes research
project is underway on the lake and a completed lake management plan is expected in
1993 (WDNR, 1991). DCRPC has ranked Fish Lake high for possible selection as a
nonpoint source priority lakes watershed project (DCRPC, 1991) . The lake is also a
long-term trends monitoring lake through the WDNR's lakes management program.
There is a small county park adjacent to the lake.

Date  1994

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Historical Description

Source: 1985, Surface Water Resources of Dane County,WI: WI-DNR Fish Lake - T9N, R7E, Sec. 3 Surface acres = 216, SDF = 1.60, Maximum depth = 62 ft Fish Lake is a deep, land-locked seepage lake occupying a valley of glacial outwash in northwestern Dane County. Two resorts are located on Fish Lake with farmland and cottages dominating the remaining shoreline. Dense beds of macrophytes, both emergent and submergent, are found throughout the littoral zone including water-milfoil, coontail, bushy pondweed, flatstem pondweed, bulrush, cattail, yellow and white water lilies, rush, and smartweed (Dane Cty. Reg. Plann. Comm. 1979a). Water quality is very good and winterkills do not occur. Inadequate septic systems in the area-must be identified and improved to prevent any degradation in water quality. Marx Pond is connected to Fish Lake by a culvert and serves as northern pike spawning grounds. The fishery of Fish Lake is unusual in that both cold and warm water game fishes are present. The lake is managed for northern pike, largemouth bass, panfish, and cisco. In the past, rainbow trout and walleye were stocked but survival was low, probably due to northern pike predation. Fishing pressure is moderately heavy. Access is available at an improved town road access way. A small county park on the west side provides parking and picnicking facilities. A Town of Roxbury ordinance does not allow motorboats on Fish Lake. Development consists of a resort-mobile home park. Fish species: cisco, northern pike, common carp, golden shiner, bluntnose minnow, white sucker, black and brown bullhead, green sunfish, pumpkinseed, bluegill, largemouth bass, black crappie, yellow perch, and walleye.

Date  1985

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Fish and Aquatic Life communities are not fully supported in this ecosystem.
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.
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.
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.
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.