Rusk
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Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Ladysmith Flowage, in the Lower Flambeau River Watershed, is a 267.96 acre lake that falls in Rusk County. This lake is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently not considered impaired.
Date 2011
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Source: 1971, Surface Water Resources of Rusk County Ladysmith Flowage, T35N, R6W, Section 35
A soft water, drainage impoundment on the Flambeau River immediately downstream from the Dairyland Reservoir. The dam at the outlet of Ladysmith Flowage is a 17-foot head power dam owned by the Lake Superior District Power Company. The estimated normal flow of the outlet is 1,550.0 cfs. The fish population consists of muskellunge, northern pike, walleyes, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, bluegills, black crappie, rock bass, pumpkinseed, channel catfish, and rock sturgeon. As the flowage is in the City of Ladysmith, much of the shoreline is developed or grass upland. However, about 40 percent of the shore is undeveloped steep land which is covered by upland hardwood. Most of the littoral is a hard bottom sand, gravel, and rubble. Migratory and nesting waterfowl use the park on the east shore that provides swimming, picnicking, and access. Private development amounts to 89 dwellings.
Surface Acres = 287.6, Maximum Depth = 19 feet, M.P.A. = 35 ppm, Secchi disk = 6 feet
Date 1971
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
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
Monitoring Projects
| WBIC | Official Waterbody Name | Station ID | Station Name | Earliest Fieldwork Date | Latest Fieldwork Date | View Station | View Data |
|---|
| 2228700 | Ladysmith Flowage | 10031192 | Ladysmith Flowage middle area E of Hwy 8 | 4/23/2010 | 4/23/2010 | Map | Data |
| 2228700 | Ladysmith Flowage | 251 | Flambeau River - Above Rea Dam | | | Map | Data |
| 2228700 | Ladysmith Flowage | 553009 | Flambeau River at Peavey Dam | 3/19/1975 | 10/9/1975 | Map | Data |
| 2228700 | Ladysmith Flowage | 553144 | Ladysmith Flowage - Deep Hole | 6/27/1989 | 9/1/2004 | Map | Data |
| 2228700 | Ladysmith Flowage | 553168 | Flambeau River - Ladysmith | 8/27/2014 | 8/27/2014 | Map | Data |
| 2228700 | Ladysmith Flowage | 10030323 | Memorial Park Beach Ladysmith | 7/7/1998 | 8/30/2023 | Map | Data |
| 2228700 | Ladysmith Flowage | 553073 | Flambeau River at Riverside Cemetery | 3/25/1998 | 3/25/1998 | Map | Data |
| 2225000 | Flambeau River | 553187 | Flambeau River - Ladysmith Fl | | | Map | Data |
| 2228700 | Ladysmith Flowage | 10018306 | Ladysmith Flowage -- Access | 7/19/2023 | 7/19/2023 | Map | Data |
| 2225000 | Flambeau River | 553008 | Flambeau River - Ush 8 Ladysmith | 2/27/1975 | 8/20/1975 | Map | Data |
| 2228700 | Ladysmith Flowage | 10014591 | Ladysmith Flowage | 9/16/2004 | 9/21/2017 | Map | Data |
| 2228700 | Ladysmith Flowage | 10031193 | Ladysmith Flowage lower end N of 10th St | 4/23/2010 | 4/23/2010 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Ladysmith Flowage is located in the Lower Flambeau River watershed which is 128.62 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (56.40%), wetland (23.20%) and a mix of grassland (6.50%) and other uses (13.70%). This watershed has 152.37 stream miles, 252.03 lake acres and 13,319.28 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Not Ranked 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.