Bayfield
No
Yes
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Namekagon Lake, in the Upper Namekagon River Watershed, is a 2,896.94 acre lake that falls in Bayfield County. This lake is an outstanding/exceptional resource water under NR102 under the Fisheries Program. This lake is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently considered impaired.
Date 2015
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Lake Namekagon is the largest lake (3227 acres) in this watershed and is located at the
headwaters of the Namekagon River. This lake has an excellent fishery and good water quality
and has been nominated for the "Outstanding Resource Water" designation. Aquatic vegetation
is becoming dense in some bay areas of this lake and a long range comprehensive lake
management plan would be an asset for this waterbody.
Date 1992
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
General Condition
Namekagon Lake (WBIC 2732600) was placed on the impaired waters list for total phosphorus in 2014 as a Two-Story Fishery Lake. Subsequently the lake has been reclassified by fisheries biologists as a Deep Lowland Lake, not Two-Story Fishery. This changed the TP criteria used. This lake was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; new total phosphorus and chlorophyll-a sample data were clearly below the 2018 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Recreation use and the Fish and Aquatic Life use. This water was meeting these designated uses and was not considered impaired.
Date 2017
Author Ashley Beranek
Impaired Waters
Namekagon Lake (2732600) was placed on the impaired waters list for total phosphorus in 2014. The 2016 assessments showed continued impairment by phosphorus; total phosphorus sample data exceed 2016 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Recreation use and Fish and Aquatic Life use, however chlorophyll data do not exceed REC or FAL thresholds. Based on the most updated information, no change in existing impaired waters listing is needed.
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
Lakes Planning Grant
Lake Namekagon association in the process of applying for a Lakes Planning Grant monitoring study and initiating the lake management planning process. Because of the ORW nomination status of this lake and the
perception of degrading water quality, this lake should be accorded a high
priority for selection as a Priority Lakes project.
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 |
|---|
| TOWN OF CABLE: Town of Cable | 1999 |
| NAMAKAGON LAKE ASSOCIATION, INC.: Lake Namekagon Water Quality Monitoring Survey | 1997 |
| NAMAKAGON LAKE ASSOCIATION, INC.: Education Outreach Program | 2004 |
| TOWN OF CABLE: Town of Cable AIS Program | 2007 |
| NAMAKAGON LAKE ASSOCIATION, INC.: Namakagon Lake 2015 Clean Boats Clean Waters Project | 2015 |
| NAMAKAGON LAKE ASSOCIATION, INC.: Eurasian Water Milfoil Watch & Education Project | 2003 |
| NAMAKAGON LAKE ASSOCIATION, INC.: Namakagon Lake Baseline Aquatic Plant Survey | 2008 |
| NAMAKAGON LAKE ASSOCIATION, INC.: Lake Namakagon AIS Prevention - Inspection | 2009 |
| NAMAKAGON LAKE ASSOCIATION, INC.: Namakagon Lake Hybrid Watermilfoil Response Project | 2020 |
| NAMAKAGON LAKE ASSOCIATION, INC.: Namakagon Lake Hybrid Eurasian Northern Water Milfoil Control | 2022 |
| NAMAKAGON LAKE ASSOCIATION, INC.: Education Outreach | 2005 |
| TOWN OF CABLE: Town of Cable AIS Prevention Program | 2010 |
| NAMAKAGON LAKE ASSOCIATION, INC.: Namakagon Chain of Lakes Educational Signage | 2010 |
| NAMAKAGON LAKE ASSOCIATION, INC.: Namakagon Chain of Lakes Management Planning Project | 2012 |
| NAMAKAGON LAKE ASSOCIATION, INC.: Namakagon Lake Association, Inc. 2018 CBCW | 2018 |
| NAMAKAGON LAKE ASSOCIATION, INC.: Namakagon Lake Association, Inc. 2019 CBCW | 2019 |
| TOWN OF NAMAKAGON: Eurasian Water Milfoil Watch & Education | 2005 |
| NAMAKAGON LAKE ASSOCIATION, INC.: Namakagon Lake Association 2020 CBCW | 2020 |
| TOWN OF NAMAKAGON: Eurasian Water Milfoil Prevention, Detection & Education | 2006 |
| TOWN OF NAMAKAGON: Lake Namakagon AIS Education, Prevention & Investigation Project | 2007 |
| NAMAKAGON LAKE ASSOCIATION, INC.: Namakagon Lake Association, Inc. 2017 CBCW | 2017 |
| NAMAKAGON LAKE ASSOCIATION, INC.: HLR - Lake Namakagon/Healthy Lakes Shoreline Projects II | 2022 |
| TOWN OF NAMAKAGON: Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention & I&E Project | 2004 |
| TOWN OF NAMAKAGON: Town of Namakagon Watershed & Land Use Plan | 1999 |
| NAMAKAGON LAKE ASSOCIATION, INC.: Namakagon Lake Aquatic Plant Management Plan & Sanitary Survey | 2008 |
| NAMAKAGON LAKE ASSOCIATION, INC.: Lake Namakagon User Survey - Information & Education | 1997 |
| TOWN OF CABLE: Town of Cable AIS Prevention Program | 2010 |
| NAMAKAGON LAKE ASSOCIATION, INC.: Namkagon Lake Eurasion Milfoil Inspection Project | 2002 |
| NAMAKAGON LAKE ASSOCIATION, INC.: HLK-Lake Namakagon HLK/Shoreline Projects | 2020 |
| NAMAKAGON LAKE ASSOCIATION, INC.: Namakagon Lake Aquatic Plant Management Plan Update | 2022 |
| Fish Propagation Actions | 2001 |
| NAMAKAGON LAKE ASSOCIATION, INC.: Lake Namakagon AIS Education, Prevention & Investigation Project | 2008 |
| TOWN OF CABLE: AIS Control in the Town of Cable | 2008 |
| NORTHLAND COLLEGE: SWE - Delivering real-time water quality data from the Lake Namekagon Chain to the public | 2024 |
|
Monitoring Projects
| WBIC | Official Waterbody Name | Station ID | Station Name | Earliest Fieldwork Date | Latest Fieldwork Date | View Station | View Data |
|---|
| 2732600 | Namekagon Lake | 043112 | Namekagon Lake - Northeast Basin | 10/19/1990 | 8/18/2014 | Map | Data |
| 2732600 | Namekagon Lake | 10019560 | Namekagon Lake -- Access Off Missionary Point Lane | 8/15/2007 | 10/11/2014 | Map | Data |
| 2732600 | Namekagon Lake | 043193 | Namekagon Lake - Missionary Pt. | | | Map | Data |
| 2732600 | Namekagon Lake | 10000851 | Namekagon Lake | 4/24/1993 | 10/17/2017 | Map | Data |
| 2732600 | Namekagon Lake | 043114 | Namekagon Lake - East Basin | 3/5/1998 | 9/5/2016 | Map | Data |
| 2732600 | Namekagon Lake | 043113 | Namekagon Lake - Deep Hole | 5/25/1995 | 8/30/2018 | Map | Data |
| 2732600 | Namekagon Lake | 10019268 | Namekagon Lake -- County Highway D Access | 5/1/2004 | 10/4/2024 | Map | Data |
| 2732600 | Namekagon Lake | 10019856 | Namekagon Lake -- Ramp - Off Lake Ridge Rd | 8/13/2008 | 8/26/2017 | Map | Data |
| 2732600 | Namekagon Lake | 10020145 | Namekagon Lake -- Funnys Ln Access | 5/1/2007 | 9/1/2024 | Map | Data |
| 2732600 | Namekagon Lake | 10047232 | Lake Namekagon - Lakewoods Resort Private Boat Landing | 8/20/2016 | 10/5/2024 | Map | Data |
| 2732600 | Namekagon Lake | 10045557 | Phragmites Occurrence - Namekagon Lake | | | Map | Data |
| 2732600 | Namekagon Lake | 043107 | Namekagon Lake - Deep Hole | | | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Namekagon Lake is located in the Upper Namekagon River watershed which is 197.80 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (74.10%), wetland (16.70%) and a mix of open (4.60%) and other uses (4.70%). This watershed has 135.34 stream miles, 6,298.06 lake acres and 19,026.69 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Not Ranked for runoff impacts on streams, Not Ranked 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.This water is ranked High Lake for individual Lakes based on runoff problems and the likelihood of success from project implementation.