Overview

Lake Altoona is a highly eutrophic impoundment on the Eau Claire River. The impoundment experiences frequent summer algal blooms and has an extremely hgh sedimentation rate. The impoundment is an important recreational resource for the Eau Claire area and is heavily used for swimming, fishng and boating (WDNR). The Lake Altoona Protection and Rehabilitation District is completing a lake planning program to control sedimentation in the lake. The lake district has received two lake management planning grants to assist ths project. The sediment control plan will develop a plan to trap approximately 50,000 to 60,000 cubic yards of sand annually, with project construction planned to begin in 1995. An aquatic plant survey was conducted on Lake Altoona in August, 1990. Nineteen species were documented, but their distribution was limited to a few key are& (Borman and ~onk;l 1994). Drawdown of the lake to facilitate dredging will likely have minimal impact to aquatic plants because the species present are drawdown-tolerant (Borman 1994).

Date  1996

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

Source: 1964, Surface Water Resources of Eau Claire County Altoona Lake, T27N, R89W, Sections 13,14,23,24,18,19

A soft water, drainage impoundment on the Eau Claire River. It has a 27-foot water control structure on its outlet, owned by Eau Claire County. The most common fish species here are walleyes, smallmouth bass and black crappies. Other species present include muskellunge, perch, bluegills, white crappies, pumpkinseeds and brown bullheads. The most common species of rough fish are carp (a problem to its fishery management), white suckers, quillback, and golden, northern, and silver redhorse. Another use problem for the lake is excessive algae growth during the summer months. Nesting ducks in the lake area include mallards, blue-winged teal and wood ducks. Other diving ducks, puddle ducks and coots use the lake during migratory seasons. Private development consists of one resort, two boat rental places, and 90 cottages and dwellings. A county park on the south shore provides picnicking, swimming and access to the lake. Access may also be had on the north side of the lake at two town road accesses. Total public frontage amounts to 0.4 miles of public shoreline.

Surface Acres = 783.0, S.D.F. = 2.66, Maximum Depth = 27 feet

Date  1964

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Impaired Waters

Lake Altoona (WBIC 2128100) was placed on the impaired waters list for Excess Algal Growth in 2016. This water was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; new total phosphorus sample data exceeded the 2018 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Recreation use and Fish and Aquatic Life use. Chlorophyll-a sample data clearly exceeded the REC use thresholds, but no criteria was available for the FAL use. The 'Unknown Pollutant' was proposed for replacement with a Total Phosphorus listing.

Date  2017

Author  Ashley Beranek

Impaired Waters

Lake Altoona (2128100) was assessed during the 2016 listing cycle; chlorophyll sample data exceed 2016 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Recreation use, however, total phosphorus data do not exceed REC thresholds. This water is considered impaired.

Date  2016

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

Watershed Characteristics

Altoona Lake is located in the Lower Eau Claire River watershed which is 216.31 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (44.70%), agricultural (30%) and a mix of grassland (16.20%) and other uses (9.00%). This watershed has 414.24 stream miles, 937.46 lake acres and 10,770.45 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked Not Available for runoff impacts on streams, Not Available 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.