Wind Lake (Round), Lower Apple River Watershed (SC04)
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Wind Lake (Round), Lower Apple River Watershed (SC04)
Wind Lake (Round) (2616000)
38.97 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.
2024
Excellent
 
Polk
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.
No

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

Wind Lake (Round Lake) T32N, R18W, Sec.1 Surface Acres =37.7, S.D.F. = 1.27, Maximum Depth = 7 ft., M.P.A. = 90 A lake subject to periodic winter freeze-out conditions. An outlet channel to Big Lake is navigable and an inlet channel from Church Pine Lake is navigable. Fish species present include northern pike, walleyes, largemouth bass, bluegills, black crappies, rock bass and bullheads. There are no public lands oraccess roads. Fourteen cottages make up the private developments. Five acres of marsh wetlands adjoining the lake serve as a nesting area for mallards and bluewing teal.

Date  

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Wind Lake (Round), Lower Apple River Watershed (SC04) Fish and Aquatic LifeWind Lake (Round), Lower Apple River Watershed (SC04) RecreationWind Lake (Round), Lower Apple River Watershed (SC04) Fish Consumption

General Condition

Wind Lake (Round) (2616000) was assessed during the 2016 listing cycle; total phosphorus sample data were clearly below 2016 WisCALM listing thresholds for Recreation use and Fish and Aquatic Life use. Chlorophyll sample data were clearly below FAL use listing thresholds and did not exceed REC listing thresholds. This water was also assessed for chlorides and sample data were clearly below 2016 WisCALM chronic and acute listing criteria for the 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

ACEI 211 18_Correspondence_Approval Letter_09012021
ACEI 211 18_APM Big Round Churchpine Lake_Jun2021
2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments
2018 List of Healthy (Category 2) Waters
Final Assessment Data from TSI Package and Assessment Units 2018
Comprehensive 2018 Lake/Impoundment Water Quality Assessments
Comprehensive 2016 Lake Reservoir Assessments
Wind Lake 2616000 Chla PkgRpt2012
Wind Lake 2616000 TP PkgRpt2012
Wind Lake, Polk County - Aquatic Plant Sampling Map (33 mpts)
Wind Lake, Polk County - Garmin Text File
CHURCH PINE AND ROUND LAKES MACROPHYTE SURVEY

Recommendations

Best Management Practices, Implement
Partnering with property owners, the applicant is sponsoring a grant to implement water quality and habitat best practices from Wisconsin's Healthy Lakes Implementation Plan. Best practices, including fish sticks, 350 sq. ft. native plantings, diversions, rock infiltration, and/or rain gardens, will be designed and installed according to the Healthy Lakes fact sheets, technical guidance and grant application.
Habitat Restoration - Shoreland
The following practices are dispersed along all three lakes: fish sticks on 1 and 350 ft2 native plantings on 8 lakeshore properties.

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
POLK COUNTY LWRD: Church Pine, Round, & Big Lakes Water Quality & Biological Assessment2012
CHURCH PINE ROUND & BIG LAKE P & R DISTRICT: HLk-Church Pine, Round, & Big Lakes Healthy Lakes Project2015
CHURCH PINE ROUND & BIG LAKE P & R DISTRICT: HLK-Church Pine, Round & Big Healthy Lakes 20172017
CHURCH PINE ROUND & BIG LAKE P & R DISTRICT: Church Pine and Round Lakes Macrophyte Survey1997
CHURCH PINE ROUND & BIG LAKE P & R DISTRICT: Big, Round and Church Pine PI Survey and APM Plan Update2020
CHURCH PINE ROUND & BIG LAKE P & R DISTRICT: Big, Round and Church Pine PI Survey and APM Plan Update2020
CHURCH PINE ROUND & BIG LAKE P & R DISTRICT: APM Plan Implementation2013

Monitoring Projects

WBICOfficial Waterbody NameStation IDStation NameEarliest Fieldwork DateLatest Fieldwork DateView StationView Data
2616000Wind Lake10004977Wind (Round) Lake8/7/20019/1/2017MapData
2616000Wind Lake493116Wind Lake (Round) - Deep Hole4/16/19868/31/2024MapData

Watershed Characteristics

Wind Lake is located in the Lower Apple River watershed which is 202.16 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (31.20%), agricultural (28.20%) and a mix of grassland (25.70%) and other uses (14.80%). This watershed has 151.64 stream miles, 4,391.99 lake acres and 9,095.80 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked High for runoff impacts on streams, Medium 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.

Natural Community

Wind Lake (Round) 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.