Silver Lake, Yellow River Watershed (LC09)
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Silver Lake, Yellow River Watershed (LC09)
Silver Lake (1881100)
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330.71 Acres
Natural Community
Two-Story
Year Last Monitored
2024
Excellent
 
This lake is impaired
Mercury Contaminated Fish Tissue
Mercury
 
Barron
Trout Water 
No
Outstanding or Exceptional 
Yes
Impaired Water 
Yes

Fish and Aquatic Life

Current Use
Two-Story
Attainable Use
Default FAL
Designated Use
Default FAL

Overview

Silver Lake is a 337-acre seepage lake about five miles northeast of Cumberland. This lake was selected in 1986 as a Long-Term Trend Monitoring lake. Intensive water quality monitoring since that time has revealed that Silver Lake has exceptional water quality with Trophlc State Index values of about 42. This hgh quality aquatic resource has also been classified as an outstanding resource water under the provisions of Chapter NR 102.10 of the Wis. Adm. Code. A volunteer has been collecting water clarity data under the self-help lake monitoring program. The residents around Silver Lake have organized a lake association. This lake does experience fluctuations in water level of several feet in response to the long-term variations in the precipitation and groundwater cycles. Fish tissue analysis for mercury has been conducted, resulting in a fish consumption advisory for walleye 15 to 26 inches long (Categories 2 and 3). This hgh quality lake is susceptible to any increase in phosphorus loading and is a high priority for protection management.

Date  1996

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

Source: 1964, Surface Water Resources of Barron County Silver Lake T36N, R13W, Sections 24, 25

A soft water seepage lake, landlocked and having a fish population of northern pike, walleyes, largemouth bass, perch, bluegills, black crappies, rock bass, bullheads, whitefish and white suckers. It is managed as a two-story trout lake and has rainbows present. The lakeshore vegetation consists mainly of upland hardwoods and open farmland with a few scattered white pine. It is accessible at the south end of the lake by county access. Plans are being made for developing a park with swimming facilities here. Total public frontage amounts to 0. 18 miles. Private development consists of 25 cottages and homes.

Surface Acres = 338.5, S.D.F. = 2.25, Maximum Depth = 78 feet

Date  1964

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Shallow headwater lake describes the depth and location of the lake in a watershed. These variables affect the lakes response to watershed variables.
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.
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.
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.
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.