Overview

Wilson Lake (Wilson Ck Fl), in the Elk River Watershed, is a 348.02 acre lake that falls in Price County. This lake is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently considered impaired.

Date  2015

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

Source: 1983, Surface Water Resources of Price County

Wilson Lake, T37N, RIW, Sec. 13, 23, 24, 26.
Surface area = 351.4 acres, maximum depth = 11 ft, MPA = 47 ppm,
Secchi disk = 5 ft.
Wilson Lake is a soft water, drainage impoundment on Wilson
Creek. Its water level is controlled by Jobes Dam on Long Lake,
and it has an outlet flow of 5.1 ft(3)/sec to Long Lake and the
Elk River system. County Highway W runs along the lake's north
end and divides Wilson Lake from Long Lake. The lake has three
unnamed tributaries feeding it, all from the east side. It is
long and shallow and has 10 islands within its shorelines. The
lake has a fish population of muskellunge, walleyes, perch,
largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, bluegills, black crappies, rock
bass, pumpkinseeds, black bullheads, white suckers, redhorse,
burbot and minnows.
The shoreline is 80% upland, 18% tag alder swamp and 2%
spruce bog. The littoral bottom alternates between sand, gravel,
rubble and muck bottom types. Aquatic vegetation is common
throughout the lake. A large number of mallards, teal and wood
ducks are raised here each year. In addition, other ducks and a
few geese use the lake during their migrations.
Private development amounts to 47 cottages or homes and 3
resorts. Public access is available from two Town of Elk sites
located on the east side of the lake. These sites are the only
public frontage.

Date  1983

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Impaired Waters

Wilson Lake (WBIC 2239400) was placed on the impaired waters list for total phosphorus in 2012. The 2018 assessments showed continued impairment by phosphorus; new total phosphorus sample data exceeded the 2018 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Recreation use and Fish and Aquatic Life use. Chlorophyll-a sample data nearly exceeded the REC use thresholds, but clearly met the FAL use thresholds. Based on the most updated information, no change in the existing impaired waters listing was needed.

Date  2017

Author  Ashley Beranek

Impaired Waters

Wilson Lake (2239400) was placed on the impaired waters list for total phosphorus in 2012. The 2016 assessments showed continued impairment by phosphorus; total phosphorus sample data exceeded 2016 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Recreation, however, chlorophyll data do not exceed REC thresholds. Total phosphorus and chlorophyll data clearly met thresholds for Fish and Aquatic Life use. 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

Monitoring Projects

Watershed Characteristics

Wilson Lake is located in the Elk River watershed which is 261.12 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (51.70%), wetland (37.40%) and a mix of grassland (4.70%) and other uses (6.20%). This watershed has 254.00 stream miles, 2,883.84 lake acres and 49,382.72 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.