Iron
No
No
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Oxbow Lake is a medium hard water drainage lake having slightly alkaline, light brown water of low transparency. The inlet stream from Little Oxbow Lake is navigable as is the outlet stream (Turtle River) which is part of the Flambeau Flowage drainage. Muck is the predominant littoral material (50 percent) with sand (20 percent), rubble (20 percent) and gravel. The shoreline is predominantly upland (95 percent) with the balance being wetland of the shrub type. Muskellunge, northern pike, walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, perch, bluegill, pumpkinseed, white sucker, bullhead, and redhorse populate the lake. Waterfowl can be expected to make some use of this lake on their migrations and possibly as a nesting site. Floating, emergent and submergent plants are moderate in density in one-third of the lake basin. There is one dwelling located on the shoreline. Public access without parking from a county highway is available as well as that of the navigable water type utilizing either the inlet or outlet streams. A temperature profile taken on July 8, 1963 revealed a temperature range of 73 degrees Fahrenheit at the surface to 64 degrees Fahrenheit at the bottom.
Surface Acres = 79.7, S.D.F. = 2.24, Maximum Depth = 11 feet 12
Source:1970, Surface Water Resources of Iron County,WI:WI-DNR Oxbow Lake, T43N, R4E, Section 7
Date 1970
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
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
| Project Name (Click for Details) | Year Started |
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Monitoring Projects
| WBIC | Official Waterbody Name | Station ID | Station Name | Earliest Fieldwork Date | Latest Fieldwork Date | View Station | View Data |
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| 2302300 | Oxbow Lake | 10002850 | Oxbow Lake | 8/29/2000 | 9/21/2017 | Map | Data |
| 2302300 | Oxbow Lake | 10019299 | Oxbow Lake -- Access | 5/20/2011 | 5/20/2011 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Oxbow Lake is located in the Flambeau Flowage watershed which is 247.18 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (56.80%), wetland (28.20%) and a mix of open (14.10%) and other uses (0.90%). This watershed has 190.98 stream miles, 10,199.06 lake acres and 43,978.35 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Not Ranked for runoff impacts on streams, Not Ranked 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.