Sawyer
No
No
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Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Devils Lake, in the Couderay River Watershed, is a 197.67 acre lake that falls in Sawyer County. This lake is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently not considered impaired.
Date 2011
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Source: 1969, Surface Water Resources of Sawyer County Devils Lake, T39N, R3W, Section 26
A soft water, seepage lake with a small outlet stream, Devils Creek, flowing into the Couderay River. The normal estimated outflow is 0.5 cfs; however, in years of low water this probably is an intermittent stream. The shoreline vegetation includes 60 percent firm upland of hardwood and grasses, soft marsh 10 percent, and tag alder bog 30 percent. The entire lake bottom is covered with aquatic plant growths of yellow pond lilies, and pond weeds. Its principle fish population is panfish and minnows. The species include perch, bullheads, white suckers, golden shiners and creek chubs. Winter freezout conditions exist. Intensive planting of northern pike and largemouth bass in past years have not succeeded in establishing a persistent population of these species. Because of the extensive waterfowl habitat of wetlands and plant growth on this lake, duck use is common. Muskrat are also common, and beaver are present in the outlet stream. There is no private development, public frontage or access roads on the lake. There is, however, a trail over private lands on the north end.
Surface Acres = 188.1, Maximum Depth = 6 feet, M.P.A. = 42 ppm, Secchi Disk = Bottom
Date 1969
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
| 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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| 2387600 | Devils Lake | 10005579 | Devils Lake | 9/5/2000 | 10/3/2016 | Map | Data |
| 2387600 | Devils Lake | 10039026 | Devils Lake (DEV-1) | 2/15/2011 | 9/1/2011 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Devils Lake is located in the Couderay River watershed which is 212.25 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (64.90%), wetland (13.50%) and a mix of open (12.90%) and other uses (8.70%). This watershed has 211.96 stream miles, 18,300.76 lake acres and 14,697.69 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Low for runoff impacts on streams, High 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.