Polk
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Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Balsam Lake, in the Balsam Branch Watershed, is a 1,901.46 acre lake that falls in Polk County. This lake is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently not considered impaired.
Date 2011
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
This 2,054 acre drainage lake is the largest lake in this watershed and the fifth largest in the St.
Croix drainage basin. Balsam Lake is heavily developed with residences and seasonal dwellings
and the Village of Balsam Lake adjacent to the southwest shoreline. Two large and very active
organizations represent the property owners around the lake; The Balsam Lake Protection and
Rehabilitation District and the Balsam Lake Homeowners Association.
The lake management district was formed in the mid-1970's and a feasibility study was
completed in 1979. This study showed Balsam Lake to be a meso-trophic lake with moderate
fertility. Shortcomings of this initial study led the Balsam Lake groups to independently finance
another general study of the lake (Lim Tech Consultants, 1986) and a two year study by the
USGS developing a lakewide hydraulic and nutrient budget and focusing on the Rice Creek
sub-watershed. A department memorandum report (Ryan, 1990) and a Bureau of Research
report (Engel & Nichols, 1991) further document the fertility and eutrophication problems in
this Rice Creek watershed
.
Self-help volunteers have been documenting water clarity conditions at three sites in Balsam
Lake and Rice Lake since 1988. The severe decline in Secchi readings for "Little Balsam Lake"
in 1991 lends additional documentation to the seriousness of the fertility contribution from the
Rice Lake system.
It is recommended that Balsam Lake be nominated for selection as a Nonpoint Source Priority
Lake Project. This lake is a high quality, high value, multiple-use aquatic resource. It has been
documented that this lake is susceptible to water quality degradation from external phosphorus
loading. The lake community has also demonstrated that it has the resolve to share in the lake
protection process and the determination to implement whatever programs are necessary to
achieve this goal.
Date 1992
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
Historical Description
Balsam Lake is situated on Balsam Branch, a navigable stream (4.5 cfs cubic feet per second). Another navigable stream, Harder Creek, also drains into this lake. Northern pike, walleyes, largemouth bass, bluegills, black crappies, rock bass, perch, pumpkinseed and bullheads are the lake's major fish species. Public frontage consists of a fifty-foot wide access road with a limited parking area, a 100-foot wide swimming beach and access road with parking and ten unimproved platted access roads with a combined total frontage of 605 feet. There are 23 resorts, one boat livery and 256 cottages on the lake developing 7.5 per cent of the lake frontage, 230 acres of wetlands adjoin the lake. Muskrats are common. Mallards, bluewing teal, wood ducks and hooded mergansers nest here. Migrating waterfowl use consists mainly of diving ducks though there are also some puddle ducks and coots, and occasionally Canada geese. Boating use of the lake is extensive, but not a problem at present. A pollution problem which does exist is the oil discharge from the Polk County Highway Department garage, where it enters the lake above the dam.
Source: 1961, Surface Water Resources of Polk County
Balsam Lake T34, 35N, R16, 17W, Sec. 1, 2, 3, 6, 27, 35 Surface Acres = 1,900, S.D.F. = 4.35, Maximum Depth = 40 ft.,
M.P.A. = 84
Balsam Lake 4-13a T34N, R17W, Sec. 4
Surface Acres = 1.5, S.D.F. =1.05, Maximum Depth = 3 ft., M.P.A. =
74
Situated on an intermittent stream with an outlet to Balsam Lake.
A freeze-out lake, having no access roads, public lands, or private
development. Mallards and bluewing teat may nest here.
Balsam Lake 15-5 T34N, R17W, Sec. 15
Surface Acres = 1.6, S.D.F. = 2.48, Maximum Depth = 4 ft., M.P.A. =
82
A freeze-out, bog lake with an intermittent outlet to Balsam
Branch. No public land, access roads or private development.
Fifty-eight acres of marsh wetlands border the take. Mallards,
bluewing teal and wood ducks nest here.
Date 1961
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
Recommendations
Lake Management Plan Implementation
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.
Social Survey of Residents or Users
Data analysis, report production
Lake Management Plan Development
Land Acquisition
The Balsam Lake P&R District will purchase approximately 34 acres of property in the Stumps Bay area of Balsam Lake. The property is adjacent to property owned by the Lake District and will be maintained in a wild state and managed in accordance with the property management plan submitted with the lake protection grant application dated April 26, 2011.
Restore Riparian Habitat
Balsam Lake Protection & Rehabilitation District is initiating a lakewide shoreline restoration and waterfront runoff control program. Technical assistance, including landscaper and volunteer training and compliance/certification visits; shoreline restoration, rain garden, and infiltration pit/trench demonstration sites; promotion and education; and incentive payments are included in the program.
Land Acquisition
The Balsam Lake P&R District will purchase 18.5 acres of property in the Stumps Bay area of Balsam Lake. The property will be maintained in a wild state and managed in accordance with the property management plan submitted with the lake protection grant application dated April 28, 2005.
Land Acquisition
The Balsam Lake Protection & Rehabilitation District is proposing to purchase a vacant lot on Balsam Lake in Polk County. The lot is located adjacent to property owned by the lake district. The long term intent for use of this property is to maintain the property in its natural condition and preserve natural shoreland habitat.
Retention Basin - Create or Improve
Balsam Lake P & R District proposes to create a watershed project involving the construction of a sedimentation basin to reduce phosphorus loading to Balsam Lake.
Land Acquisition
The Balsam Lake Protection and Rehab District will acquire two (2) 40-acre parcels of land in the Balsam Lake area. The two parcels of land will be acquired in order to help protect the Balsam Lake Watershed because the current land use (ag/pasture) directly impacts the lake. After the current problems are corrected, these parcels will be used for lake protection and will be open to public access and use but no intensive access provisions are planned.
Nine Key Element Plan
The Balsam Branch Priority Watershed Project plan examines the sources of nonpoint pollution in the watershed and guides the implementation of pollution control measures. The goal of the plan is to protect, maintain, and enhance the aquatic ecosystem of the watershed. The control measures are designed to meet this goal. Sources of nonpoint pollution found in this watershed include: cropland, streambanks, gullies, construction sites, livestock manure, lakeshore property, urban land, and septic systems.
Nine Key Element Plan
The Balsam Branch Priority Watershed Project plan examines the sources of nonpoint pollution in the watershed and guides the implementation of pollution control measures.
Monitor Watershed (Status,Sources,Impairments)
The Balsam Branch Priority Watershed Project plan examines the sources of nonpoint pollution in the watershed and guides the implementation of pollution control measures.
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.
Watershed Characteristics
Balsam Lake is located in the Balsam Branch watershed which is 104.07 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (31.60%), agricultural (28.40%) and a mix of grassland (18.70%) and other uses (21.30%). This watershed has 63.62 stream miles, 6,301.67 lake acres and 5,248.51 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked High 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.