Monroe
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Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Angelo Pond was created by a dam built between 1845 and 1850 to power a flour mill. The dam was later used to generate hydorelectric power until the 1960’s. Currently the dam is owned by Monroe County and operates as run of river where water levels in the impoundment change due to the flow of the river, not by manipulation of the dam. This dam creates a 50 acre impoundment that is surrounded by a few homes and a town park. The park, located at the wayside off Hwy 21, contains a small boat landing. The average depth of the lake is two feet with a maximum of eight feet. A portion of the lake was dredged in the early 1980’s to create some holes six to nine feet deep. Recent efforts to dredge portions of the lake have been hampered by lack of funds. Repair to the dam was ordered by the Wisconsin DNR in 1997 and the impoundment was drained. Repair to the structure enabled the lake to be filled again in 1998.
Angelo Pond impounds the La Crosse River where Silver Creek enters the river. Both streams traverse Fort McCoy for a significant amount of their length. The La Crosse River contains a sand bottom, which is slowly filling in Angelo Pond. This impoundment also slows the river's current down enough to allow fine sediments to settle out. These fine sediments in Angelo Pond contain a robust aquatic plant community. Since no water quality data has been collected on Angelo Pond, the WDNR should seek a self-help volunteer monitor to gather such information. Angelo Pond is considered a high priority to receive a lakes planning grant to assess the impacts of nonpoint source pollution to the lake.
Angelo Pond has been regularly stocked with largemouth bass and rainbow trout since 1984. A fish advisory exists for mercury in largemouth bass found in Angelo Pond. Due to this listing in the Wisconsin fish advisory, Angelo Pond is listed as an impaired water (see discussion of Wisconsin Impaired Waters List in Chapter 3 or at www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/water/wm/wqs/303d/. Mercury advisories in impoundments are common in Wisconsin. An upstream source is possible; however, a combination of atmospheric deposition, water chemistry, and underlying bedrock has been determined to cause nearly all mercury advisories in Wisconsin.
Important Health Information for People Eating Fish from Wisconsin Waters is a updated yearly by the Wisconsin DNR. This publication explains the suggested precautions when deciding which fish to eat from specific lakes and streams. This document can be found on the Wisconsin DNR website [www.dnr.state.wi.us] or at any Wisconsin DNR service center.
Date 2002
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Angelo Pond is a drainage impoundment having slightly alkaline, medium hard, light brown colored water of low transparency. The county is contemplating purchase of the dam from the Northern States Power Company. The dam has a height of 14 feet. It is located on the LaCrosse River. Primary sport fish present include largemouth bass, bluegill, black crappie, pumpkinseed, and black bullhead. Occasional brook, brown, and rainbow trout are creeled by anglers. Carp are present and are considered a problem. Due to dense beds of rooted vegetation present, chemical weed control practices have been carried on. There are 14 dwellings. Assess is available from a wayside park. Toilet and picnic facilities are present and unsupervised swimming is popular. Muskrat are significant. Nesting mallard, teal, and wood ducks may be observed and migrating puddle and diving ducks use the flowage.
Source: 1969, Surface Water Resources of Monroe County Angelo Pond, T17N, R3W, S7 Surface Acres = 44.7, S.D.F. = 2.63, Maximum Depth = 7 feet.
Date 1969
Author Aquatic Biologist
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
| WBIC | Official Waterbody Name | Station ID | Station Name | Earliest Fieldwork Date | Latest Fieldwork Date | View Station | View Data |
|---|
| 1660400 | Angelo Pond | 10015129 | Angelo Pond Station 2 | | | Map | Data |
| 1660400 | Angelo Pond | 10004116 | Angelo Pond | 10/5/1993 | 9/2/2016 | Map | Data |
| 1660400 | Angelo Pond | 423122 | Angelo Pond - Deep Hole | 7/24/1973 | 2/6/1975 | Map | Data |
| 1660400 | Angelo Pond | 10015128 | Angelo Pond Station 1 - Sth 21 | | | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Angelo Pond is located in the Upper La Crosse River watershed which is 126.12 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (62.40%), grassland (11.90%) and a mix of agricultural (9.80%) and other uses (16.10%). This watershed has 167.76 stream miles, 207.50 lake acres and 4,875.27 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked High for runoff impacts on streams, Not Ranked 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.