Barron
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Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Prairie Lake, in the Lake Chetek Watershed, is a 1,408.39 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
A soft water drainage lake and the largest lake in the Chetek Lake Chain. The lake level is maintained by the water control structure on Lake Chetek. The fish species consist of northern pike, walleyes,
largemouth bass., smallmouth bass, perch, bluegills, black crappies, black bass, pumpkinseeds, bullheads and white suckers. Excessive algae growth presents a problem to use and management. The lakeshore is predominantly upland hardwoods and pine. Private development on the lake
is extensive, with 24 resorts, 25 boat rental places, 366 cottages and a church camp. Veteran's Memorial Park, a county park on the north end of the lake, provides picnicking and camping facilities. There are seven access roads to this lake and 14 platted undeveloped access sites for a total of 0.22 miles of public frontage. Three acres of marsh edge along the lake provide habitat for muskrats, nesting puddle ducks and mergansers. Coot and Canada geese also use the lake during spring and
fall migratory periods. Source: 1964, Surface Water Resources of Barron County Prairie Lake T33, 34N, R10, 11W, Sections -several Surface Acres = 1, 545.0, S.D.F. = 2.90, Maximum Depth = 16 feet
Date 1964
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
Impaired Waters
Prairie Lake (2094100) was placed on the impaired waters list for total phosphorus in 2006. The 2016 assessments showed continued impairment by phosphorus; total phosphorus sample data overwhelmingly exceeded 2016 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Recreation use and Fish and Aquatic Life use, and chlorophyll data exceeded REC and FAL thresholds. 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
| WBIC | Official Waterbody Name | Station ID | Station Name | Earliest Fieldwork Date | Latest Fieldwork Date | View Station | View Data |
|---|
| 2094100 | Prairie Lake | 10030255 | Prairie Lake at 11th Avenue Landing | 8/24/2009 | 8/24/2009 | Map | Data |
| 2094100 | Prairie Lake | 10000658 | Prairie Lake | 9/5/2000 | 8/19/2017 | Map | Data |
| 2094100 | Prairie Lake | 033149 | Prairie Lake - Deep Hole | 8/30/1979 | 10/9/2021 | Map | Data |
| 2094100 | Prairie Lake | 10031994 | Prairie Lake at Long Bridge Bay | 5/10/2011 | 9/7/2020 | Map | Data |
| 2094100 | Prairie Lake | 10031995 | Prairie Lake at North Basin | 5/17/2011 | 9/8/2013 | Map | Data |
| 2094100 | Prairie Lake | 10018219 | Prairie Lake -- Access | 7/31/2010 | 8/3/2011 | Map | Data |
| 2094100 | Prairie Lake | 10018503 | Prairie Lake -- Access at End Of 13 - 12 1/2 Ave | 7/30/2008 | 7/28/2017 | Map | Data |
| 2094100 | Prairie Lake | 033144 | Prairie Lake - Near South End | 9/15/1993 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 2094100 | Prairie Lake | 10018146 | Prairie Lake -- Access | 10/16/2007 | 8/27/2015 | Map | Data |
| 2094100 | Prairie Lake | 034016 | Prairie Lake - Deep Hole | | | Map | Data |
| 2094100 | Prairie Lake | 10018431 | Prairie Lake -- Access at 11 1/2 Ave | 8/3/2011 | 8/3/2011 | Map | Data |
| 2094100 | Prairie Lake | 10018220 | Prairie Lake -- Access - E Side Lake - Off 24 1/2 St | 10/2/2003 | 7/21/2011 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Prairie 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.This water is ranked High Lake for individual Unknowns based on runoff problems and the likelihood of success from project implementation.