Tenmile Lake, Lake Chetek Watershed (LC08)
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Tenmile Lake (2089500)
265.78 Acres
Natural Community
Natural communities (stream and lake natural communities) represent model results that use predicted flow and temperature based on landscape features and related assumptions. Ranges of flow and temperature associated with specific aquatic life communities (fish, macroinvertebrates) help biologists identify appropriate resource management goals. Wisconsin Natural Communities.
Reservoir
Year Last Monitored
This is the most recent date of monitoring data stored in SWIMS. Additional surveys for fish and habitat may be available subsequent to this date.
2022
Poor
 
This is impaired
Eutrophication
Total Phosphorus
 
Barron
Trout Water 
Trout Waters are represented by Class I, Class II or Class III waters. These classes have specific ecological characteristics and management actions associated with them. For more information regarding Trout Classifications, see the Fisheries Trout Class Webpages.
No
Outstanding or Exceptional 
Wisconsin has designated many of the state's highest quality waters as Outstanding Resource Waters (ORWs) or Exceptional Resource Waters (ERWs). Waters designated as ORW or ERW are surface waters which provide outstanding recreational opportunities, support valuable fisheries and wildlife habitat, have good water quality, and are not significantly impacted by human activities. ORW and ERW status identifies waters that the State of Wisconsin has determined warrant additional protection from the effects of pollution. These designations are intended to meet federal Clean Water Act obligations requiring Wisconsin to adopt an 'antidegradation' policy that is designed to prevent any lowering of water quality - especially in those waters having significant ecological or cultural value.
No
Impaired Water 
A water is polluted or 'impaired' if it does not support full use by humans, wildlife, fish and other aquatic life and it is shown that one or more of the pollutant criteria are not met.
Yes

Fish and Aquatic Life

Current Use
The use the water currently supports. This is not a designation or classification; it is based on the current condition of the water. Information in this column is not designed for, and should not be used for, regulatory purposes.
Restricted Aquatic Life
Fish and Aquatic Life communities are not fully supported in this ecosystem.
Attainable Use
The use that the investigator believes the water could achieve through managing "controllable" sources. Beaver dams, hydroelectric dams, low gradient streams, and naturally occurring low flows are generally not considered controllable. The attainable use may be the same as the current use or it may be higher.
WWSF
Streams capable of supporting a warm waterdependent sport fishery. Representative aquatic life communities associated with these waters generally require cool or warm temperatures and concentrations of dissolved oxygen that do not drop below 5 mg/L.
Designated Use
This is the water classification legally recognized by NR102 and NR104, Wis. Adm. Code. The classification determines water quality criteria and effluent limits. Waters obtain designated uses through classification procedures.
Cold
Streams capable of supporting a cold water sport fishery, or serving as a spawning area for salmonids and other cold water fish species. Representative aquatic life communities, associated with these waters, generally require cold temperatures and concentrations of dissolved oxygen that remain above 6 mg/L. Since these waters are capable of supporting natural reproduction, a minimum dissolved oxygen concentration of 7 mg/L is required during times of active spawning and support of early life stages of newly-hatched fish.

Overview

Tenmile Lake, in the Lake Chetek Watershed, is a 265.77 acre lake that falls in Barron County. This lake is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently considered impaired.

Date  2011

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

Source: 1964, Surface Water Resources of Barron County Tenmile Lake T33N, R10W, Sections 27, 28, 32, 33

A soft water drainage impoundment in the Chetek Lake Chain. The lake level is controlled by the outlet dam on Lake Chetek. Fish species counted here include walleyes, northern pike, largemouth bass, perch, bluegills, black crappies, pumpkinseeds, bullheads and white suckers. Excessive algae growth complicates use and management. Muskrats, nesting mallards and wood ducks use the 27 acres of lake edge wetlands. Tenmile Lake is also quite highly developed with two resorts and 69 cottages and homes. It is accessible at two public boat landings on the east shore. A county park also on the east shore provides picnicking and camping facilities. A total of 0.05 miles of public frontage is available on the lake. This figure includes the developed access sites, the county park and seven undeveloped platted accesses.

Surface Acres = 393.0, S.D.F. - 2.07, Maximum Depth = 10 feet

Date  1964

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

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
CHETEK LAKES PROTECTION ASSOCIATION: Chetek Lake Hydrologic Budget, Phosphorus Budget, and Report1996
CHETEK LAKES PROTECTION ASSOCIATION: Chetek Chain of Lakes APM Planning & Water Quality Improvement Program2010
CHETEK LAKES PROTECTION ASSOCIATION: Tenmile Lake Aquatic Plant Management Plan2022
CHETEK LAKES PROTECTION ASSOCIATION: Chetek Lakes Flow and Phosphorus Data Study1996
CHETEK LAKES PROTECTION ASSOCIATION: Chetek Chain of Lakes Sediment Sampling --- Prairie & Tenmile Lake2023
CHETEK LAKES PROTECTION ASSOCIATION: Chetek Lakes Water Quality Monitoring1996
Fish Propagation Actions2001
CHETEK LAKES PROTECTION ASSOCIATION: Chetek Lakes TMDL Planning Project2008

Monitoring Projects

WBICOfficial Waterbody NameStation IDStation NameEarliest Fieldwork DateLatest Fieldwork DateView StationView Data
2089500Tenmile Lake033152Tenmile Lake - N of Cty Park6/5/198710/27/2022MapData
2089500Tenmile Lake10030257Tenmile Lake at 26 1/2 - 27th StMapData
2089500Tenmile Lake10018435Tenmile Lake -- Access8/8/20077/21/2011MapData
2089500Tenmile Lake10000758Tenmile Lake9/5/20008/19/2017MapData

Watershed Characteristics

Tenmile Lake is located in the Lake Chetek watershed which is 212.00 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (48.80%), agricultural (19.70%) and a mix of grassland (14.50%) and other uses (17.00%). This watershed has 270.25 stream miles, 2,008.86 lake acres and 10,678.22 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked Medium for runoff impacts on streams, High for runoff impacts on lakes and High for runoff impacts on groundwater and therefore has an overall rank of High. 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.

Natural Community

Tenmile Lake is considered a Reservoir under the state's Natural Community Determinations.

Natural communities (stream and lake natural communities) represent model results and DNR staff valiation processes that confirm or update predicted conditions based on flow and temperature modeling from historic and current landscape features and related variables. Predicated flow and temperatures for waters are associated predicated fish assemblages (communities). Biologists evaluate the model results against current survey data to determine if the modeled results are corect and whether biological indicators show water quaity degradation. This analysis is a core component of the state's resource management framework. Wisconsin's Riverine Natural Communities.