Polk
No
Yes
Yes
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Pipe Lake is a landlocked lake with a nonnavigable channel to North Pipe Lake. Managed for walleyes, northern pike, largemouth bass, bluegills, black crappies, pumpkinseed, perch, rock bass and bullheads. Some smallmouth bass are also present. There are 14 cottages on the lake at present, developing an area of 15 per cent of the lake shore. Public frontage on the lake includes an unimproved platted access (75 feet) on the northeast corner and approximately 1,650 feet of frontage on the east shore presently owned by Polk County. A private access road with limited parking at the northwest corner is used by the public at no charge. Sixty-five acres of wooded wetlands adjoin the lake. Mallards, bluewing teal, wood ducks and hooded mergansers may nest here. Migratory waterfowl includes mainly diving ducks, with a few puddle ducks and coots also.
Pipe Lake T35N, RISW, Sec. 10, 15, 22 Surface Acres = 270.0, S.D.F.= 2.34, Maximum Depth = 70 ft., M. P. A. = 54
Date
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
This 270 acre seepage lake is a high quality waterbody that has been nominated for the classification of "Outstanding Resource Water". A rather inactive lake organization exists for this lake and a volunteer was recently recruited to start self-help monitoring in 1991. Available data indicates high water quality but the information base is not extensive. Walleyes from Pipe Lake are on the fish consumption advisory list and additional monitoring has been recommended. A lakes planning grant for in-lake monitoring and watershed documentation would be a priority activity for this lake and implementation funding for protection of this high value resource should be considered a high priority.
Date 1992
Author Aquatic Biologist
Impaired Waters
Pipe Lake (2490500) was placed on the impaired waters list for Mercury in fish tissue in 2014. This water was assessed during the 2016 listing cycle; total phosphorus and chlorophyll sample data were clearly below 2016 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Recreation use and Fish and Aquatic Life use. This lake is considered impaired for Fish Consumption use and meeting REC and FAL uses.
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
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.
Lake Management Plan Development
Pipe and North Pipe Lakes P&R District will implement recommendations described in the Pipe Lakes Action Plan. Activities include: 1) repair/replace problem culverts and remediate erosion on intermittent tributaries; 2) design/build detention basins in subwatershed contributing the most pollution; 3) restore shorelines, integrating woody habitat; 4) implement residential diversion/infiltration BMPs (e.g. berms, rain gardens, rain barrels); 5) complete whole-lake, point-intercept aquatic plant surveys on both lakes; 6) monitor tributary and lake water quality and quantity; 7) information and education. Shoreline restoration parcels require a Department approved restrictive covenant that permanently establishes a vegetative buffer.
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 |
|---|
| 2490500 | Pipe Lake | 493177 | Pipe Lake - Inter Stream Nr Pipe L - Sese S16 | | | Map | Data |
| 2490500 | Pipe Lake | 10004775 | Pipe Lake | 9/5/2000 | 9/12/2017 | Map | Data |
| 2490500 | Pipe Lake | 10018102 | Pipe Lake -- Access | 5/5/2007 | 8/26/2024 | Map | Data |
| 2490500 | Pipe Lake | 493168 | Pipe Lake - Inlet - East | 4/9/2001 | 5/7/2001 | Map | Data |
| 2490500 | Pipe Lake | 493097 | Pipe Lake - Deep Hole | 7/15/1994 | 9/9/2024 | Map | Data |
| 2490500 | Pipe Lake | 493175 | Pipe Lake - Inter Stream Nr Pipe L - Sene S15 | 4/9/2001 | 4/9/2001 | Map | Data |
| 2490500 | Pipe Lake | 10015133 | Pipe/North Pipe Lakes _Treaty Chain | | | Map | Data |
| 2490500 | Pipe Lake | 493176 | Pipe Lake - Inter Stream Nr Pipe L - Sese S15 | 4/9/2001 | 5/7/2001 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Pipe Lake is located in the Upper Apple River watershed which is 195.43 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (45.90%), agricultural (16.40%) and a mix of wetland (15.70%) and other uses (22.10%). This watershed has 138.62 stream miles, 7,663.43 lake acres and 16,247.07 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Medium for runoff impacts on streams, High for runoff impacts on lakes and Low for runoff impacts on groundwater and therefore has an overall rank of Low. 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.