Long Lake, Holcombe Flowage Watershed (UC01)
Long Lake, Holcombe Flowage Watershed (UC01)
Long Lake (2351400)
935.72 Acres
Natural Community
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.
Two-Story
Year Last Monitored
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.
2024
Good
 
Chippewa
Trout Water 
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.
No
Outstanding or Exceptional 
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.
No
Impaired Water 
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.
No

Fish and Aquatic Life

Current Use
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.
Two-Story
Shallow headwater lake describes the depth and location of the lake in a watershed. These variables affect the lakes response to watershed variables.
Attainable Use
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.
Default FAL
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.
Designated Use
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.
Default FAL
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.

Historical Description

Source: 1963, Surface Water Resources of Chippewa County Long Lake - Town of Sampson T32N, R8W, Sections 8,17,18,19 and 20 T32N, R9W, Sections 13 and 24

A soft water, seepage lake with an outlet, Cedar Creek, to Chain Lake. A two-foot water control structure is maintained on the outlet by the county. Its most abundant fish species include northern pike, walleyes, largemouth bass, bluegills, black crappies and rock bass. Other species present are muskellunge, smallmouth bass, perch, warmouth bass, bullheads, white suckers and longnose gar. There is a five-acre county park at the lake outlet that provides a picnic area and public access. Private development consists of five resorts, a boat rental place, camping facilities at the county park, 95 cottages, three Girl Scout camps and one YMCA camp. Muskrats are common here as well as migratory diving ducks, coot and, occasionally, Canada geese. Waterfowl using the lake area for nesting include mallards, blue-winged teal, wood ducks, mergansers and loon. Public frontage amounts to 0.08 miles, and includes the county park and a 50-foot undeveloped road access in a plat.

Surface Acres = 1, 060. 0, S. D. F. = 3.08, Maximum Depth = 96 feet

Date  1963

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Long Lake, Holcombe Flowage Watershed (UC01) Fish and Aquatic LifeLong Lake, Holcombe Flowage Watershed (UC01) RecreationLong Lake, Holcombe Flowage Watershed (UC01) Fish Consumption

General Condition

Long Lake was listed in the 2014 cycle for phosphorus and evaluated every two-year cycle from 2014 to 2022. In the 2022 cycle phosphorus levels were low enough to warrant delisting this pollutant. This lake is proposed for the Healthy Waters List.

Date  2022

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

Protect Riparian or Shorelands
The Lower Long Lake Protection and Rehabilitation District proposes to promote adoption of its "community shoreland performance standards" by shoreland property owners on Long Lake in Chippewa County.
Easement/Buffer
The West Wisconsin Land Trust proposes to purchase a conservation easement for Lake Protection purposes on an 11.28 acre parcel on Long Lake in Chippewa County. Main project elements include purchase price and associated acquisition costs.
Easement/Buffer
West Wisconson Land Trust seeks funding to assist with purchase of a conservation easement on 215 acres of the Steven Kristo property on Long and Larrabee Lakes in Chippewa County.
Land Acquisition
West Wisconsin Land Trust seeks $158,000 to help fund acquisition of a conservation easement protecting 64.93 acres of property on Herde Lake in Chippewa County.
Land Acquisition
West Wisconsin Land Trust seeks $200,000 to help fund acquisition of a conservation easement protecting 317 acres of the former Camp Chippewa Bay property on Lower Long Lake in Chippewa County.
Land Acquisition
The Lower Long Lake Foundation, Inc. has purchased the 59-acre Playter property on the northeastern shore of Long Lake in Chippewa County. Project involved bargain sale and up-front funding from Chippewa County's Stewardship fund -- funding that will be reimbursed with $50K of the grant award. The property includes 700 ft. of shoreline, and will be maintained for resource protection, lakeshore preservation, environmental education and scientific study.

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

Long Lake is located in the Holcombe Flowage watershed which is 170.38 miĀ². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (53.90%), wetland (23.30%) and a mix of open (9.10%) and other uses (13.70%). This watershed has 216.07 stream miles, 6,687.77 lake acres and 19,889.41 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked Not Ranked for runoff impacts on streams, Medium 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 Lakes based on runoff problems and the likelihood of success from project implementation.

Natural Community

Long Lake is considered a Two-Story under the state's Natural Community Determinations.

Natural communities (stream and lake natural communities) represent model results and DNR staff valiation processes that confirm or update predicted conditions based on flow and temperature modeling from historic and current landscape features and related variables. Predicated flow and temperatures for waters are associated predicated fish assemblages (communities). Biologists evaluate the model results against current survey data to determine if the modeled results are corect and whether biological indicators show water quaity degradation. This analysis is a core component of the state's resource management framework. Wisconsin's Riverine Natural Communities.

Shallow headwater lake describes the depth and location of the lake in a watershed. These variables affect the lakes response to watershed variables.