Kewaunee
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Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
East Alaska Lake is Kewaunee County's largest lake. It is a 53-acre seepage/drainage lake up to 50 feet deep and fed by an intermittent inlet from West Alaska Lake. East Alaska Lake is eutrophic with fair water quality. Aquatic plants are abundant in the littoral zone (Rasman, n.d.), and algae is a periodic problem. One algae sample taken in 1988 was dominated by two species of blue-green algae, the least desirable kind (Rasman, 1988). Nonpoint sources of nutrients include golf course fertilizers, feedlot runoff and failing septic systems. The fishery has largemouth bass, panfish and walleye. Muskellunge are present in the lake from an experimental stocking. An annual fishing tournament occurs on the lake (Anon., 1993). The lake does show potential for winterkill, with hypolimnetic oxygen levels low during summer and winter stratification (Rasman, n.d.). Most of the shoreline is privately owned and developed and an active lake management organization exists. The lake has a boat landing for public access, a small resort and golf course. Water resources managers believe that polluted runoff from the golf course may be affecting water quality. East Alaska Lake ranked "high" in the nonpoint source evaluation for priority lake projects.
Date 2002
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Source: 1966, Surface Water Resources of Kewaunee County East Alaska Lake, T24N, R25E, Sections 17, 20 Surface Acres = 47.9, S.D.F. = 1.58, Maximum Depth = 45 feet.
A small, clear, hard water seepage lake with intermittent inlet from West Alaska Lake and seasonal outlet to Lake Michigan. The fishery is comprised of muskellunge, walleye, largemouth bass, and panfishes with black crappies and yellow bullheads abundant. The muskellunge is not native and has been stocked experimentally. Public access, though somewhat difficult, is provided by a county road. Boats may be rented at the lake. Medium numbers of waterfowl utilize the lake in spring and fall, and mallards and blue-wing teal nest here. There are no adjoining wetlands. The lake has a record of having received spill from a nearby cheese factory.
Date 1966
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
Impaired Waters
East Alaska Lake (94200) was placed on the impaired waters list for Mercury in fish tissue in 1998. This water has a Fish Consumption use impairment. 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 water is meeting Recreation use and Fish and Aquatic Life use.
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
Recommendations
Water Quality Planning
Tri-Lakes Association,Inc. will conduct an alum treatment on East AlaskaLake in Kewaunee County and monitor water quality. Specifically, Tri-Lakes Association will contract with a chemical applicator to apply alum following their approved alum treatment plan, provide public notice of the treatment specifying treatment date, monitor water quality on East Alaska Lake pre, during, and post treatment and complete a report comparing water quality pre and post treatment.
Lake Management Plan Development
Alum Treatment Plan
Lakes Planning Grant
Lake Classification
Kewaunee County proposes to conduct a county-wide inventory, analysis and classification of its surface water resources with the intent to develop a comprehensive land use and resource protection plan. This grant will go to aid in the development of that plan that pertains to the Krohn's and Three Mile/Alaska Lakes and watersheds and will address ordinance concerns specific to the needs of those lake resources. A public involvement and education program will be developed and accompany project development.
Monitor Fish Tissue
Runoff Evaluation
Basin personnel should assess the impact of golf course runoff on East Alaska Lake (TK04).
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 |
|---|
| 94200 | East Alaska Lake | 313120 | East Alaska Lake - Inlet | 7/27/1973 | 10/28/2004 | Map | Data |
| 94200 | East Alaska Lake | 10031100 | East Alaska Lake - Southern End of Lake (Site 2) | 4/5/2010 | 2/3/2015 | Map | Data |
| 94200 | East Alaska Lake | 10031993 | East Lake Alaska Stormwater Discharge Site | 10/25/2010 | 10/25/2010 | Map | Data |
| 94200 | East Alaska Lake | 10019190 | East Alaska Lake -- Access at Park At N End Lake | 6/5/2010 | 8/31/2024 | Map | Data |
| 94200 | East Alaska Lake | 10003105 | East Alaska Lake | 6/1/1993 | 7/1/2021 | Map | Data |
| 94200 | East Alaska Lake | 313121 | East Alaska Lake - Deep Hole | 7/27/1973 | 10/21/2024 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
East Alaska Lake is located in the Ahnapee River watershed which is 135.58 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (49.80%), wetland (19.80%) and a mix of grassland (19.50%) and other uses (10.80%). This watershed has 189.28 stream miles, 5,768.81 lake acres and 15,037.67 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked High for runoff impacts on streams, Not Ranked 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.
Hydrological
This watershed is 50.00% impervious.