Sawyer
No
No
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Durphee Lake, in the Couderay River Watershed, is a 197.65 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 Durphee Lake, T40N, R9W, Section 34, 35
A soft water, seepage lake, once landlocked, is now connected to a commercial cranberry marsh on the west side by an artificial channel associated with a pumping station. An artificial connection has also been made to Schoolhouse Lake on the north. Durphee Lake is now connected to the Couderay River watershed. The existing fish population consists of largemouth bass, perch, smallmouth bass, black crappies, bluegills, bullheads, and suckers. Occasionally bluegreen algae develops to the nuisance stage and causes partial summer fish kill conditions. Although a soft water lake, in relation to carbonate and bicarbonate levels, the addition of other nutrients such as phosphates, nitrates, and potassium, have greatly increased its fertility. The only emergent aquatic vegetation consists of a stand of bulrushes on the east shore and scattered pond lilies. Nesting ducks include a few of the puddle duck species. There are no significant numbers of furbearers. Private development consists of one resort and boat rental place, and 26 cottages. There is a public access with limited parking on the south shore, and the access site is its only public frontage.
Surface Acres = 192.5, Maximum Depth = 16 feet, M.P.A.= 14 ppm, Secchi Disk = 3 feet
Date 1969
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
General Condition
Durphee Lake (2396800) was assessed during the 2016 listing cycle; total phosphorus and chlorophyll sample data were clearly below 2016 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Recreation use and Fish and Aquatic Life use. This water is meeting these designated uses and is not considered impaired.
Date 2015
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
Water Quality Planning
Water quality sampling will be conducted by 2 DNR staff at the deep hole site (Site ID-10041471) of Durphee Lake (WBIC:2396800). Samples will be taken 3 times between July 15 and September 15 in 2014 (FY15) and 2015 (FY16) to coincide with WisCALM methodology. At each sampling event, multiparameter probes will be used to conduct profiles and integrated samplers will be used to collect the water samples. Data collected at the 3 summer sampling events will be secchi, temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, and conductance profiles; and total phosphorus, and chlorophyll a concentrations.
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 |
|---|
| 2396800 | Durphee Lake | 10018851 | Durphee Lake -- Access Off Cty Highway Kk | 7/30/2010 | 7/30/2010 | Map | Data |
| 2396800 | Durphee Lake | 10041471 | Durphee Lake - Deep Hole | 6/22/2012 | 8/22/2023 | Map | Data |
| 2396800 | Durphee Lake | 10005601 | Durphee Lake | 9/5/2000 | 9/12/2017 | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Durphee 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.