Manitowoc
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No
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Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
WILKE LAKE
T17N, R21E, Section 2, Manitowoc County, Sheboygan River Watershed
Surface acres 97, S.D.F. = 1.30, Maximum depth = 22 feet
Drainage area - 0.73 sq. mi., Mean depth = 8.35 feet,
Lake volume = 810 ac.ft.
Wilke is a 97-acre, 21-foot-maximum-depth seepage lake located in the terminal moraine part of the state. This lake has hard water and a bottom composed of gravel and muck. It is a heavily used and intensively developed lake. Largemouth bass, panfish and northern pike provide good fishing. Weeds and stunted bluegills are the major management problems. A town road with parking provides access to 50 feet of public frontage. Two boat liveries on the lake increase fishing access. There are 32 acres of non woody adjoining wetland. A moderate number of ducks may visit the lake during the spring and fall. Water use objectives and recommendations have been developed for Wilke Lake, and are summarized in the Nonpoint Source Control Plan for the Sheboygan River Priority Watershed Project (WDNR 1993).
Aquatic Plants
A general survey of the aquatic vegetation of Wilke Lake was conducted. Table 44 lists the aquatic vegetation that was observed in Wilke Lake during the 1994 survey. The lake association owns and operates a mechanical harvester which was operating during the survey.
Table 34. List of aquatic plants found in Wilke Lake, Manitowoc County
Common Name Scientific Name
Muskgrass
Bulrush
Naiad
Richardson Pondweed
Large Leaf Pondweed
Floating Leaf Pondweed (Unid.)
Unknown pondweed
Water Milfoil
Bladderwort
Yellow Water Lily
White Water Lily Chara sp.
Juncus sp.
Najas sp.
Potamogeton richardsonii
Potamogeton amplifolius
Potamogeton sp.
Potamogeton sp.
Myriophyllum sp.
Utricularia sp.
Nuphar sp.
Nymphaea sp.
Water Quality
The water quality of Wilke Lake was monitored on May 4, and August 24, 1994. In May, the lake was weakly stratified with only a 2.5 degree difference from top to bottom (15 ft), and the dissolved oxygen ranged from 10.6 at the surface to 10.0 at the bottom. In August, the lake was only slightly more stratified with a 2.6-degree difference from top to bottom (20 ft), however the dissolved oxygen was 1.4 ppm at 20 feet. Water clarity was measured to be 2.5 meters and 1.4 meters in May and August respectively (Wakeman 1996). Additional water quality information and water quality goals for Wilke Lake can be found in the Nonpoint Source Control Plan for the Sheboygan River Priority Watershed Project (WDNR, 1993).
Trophic Status Index
Figure 15 summarizes the trophic status of the lake. Based upon the past and present water quality information Wilke Lake is considered to be meso- to eutrophic. There appears to be some significant changes in the Trophic Status Index based upon the available information (Wakeman 1996).
Date 2001
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Source: 1968, Surface Water Resources of Manitowoc County Wilke Lake, T17N, R21E, Section 2 Surface acres - 97, S.D.F. = 1.30, Maximum depth = 22 feet.
A landlocked seepage lake located in terminal moraine. This lake has hard, clear water and a bottom composed of gravel and muck. Largemouth bass, panfish and northern pike provide good fishing. Weeds and stunted bluegills are the major management problems. This is one of the most heavily used lakes in the county. There are 61 dwellings and one resort on the shoreline. A town road with parking provides access to 50 feet of public frontage. Two boat liveries on the lake increase fishing access. There are 32 acres of non-woody adjoining wetland. A moderate number of ducks may visit the lake during the spring and fall. Hunting is permitted.
Date 1968
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
General Condition
Wilke Lake (58000) was assessed during the 2016 listing cycle; total phosphorus and chlorophyll sample data were clearly below Fish and Aquatic Life use listing thresholds. This water is meeting this designated use 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
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 |
|---|
| 58000 | Wilke Lake | 10003536 | Wilke Lake | 7/21/1988 | 7/12/2022 | Map | Data |
| 58000 | Wilke Lake | 10019454 | Wilke Lake -- Access at S End Of Lake Nr Vogel Ln | 6/3/2007 | 6/23/2023 | Map | Data |
| 58000 | Wilke Lake | 363286 | Wilke Lake - Deep Hole | 6/13/1988 | 8/27/2024 | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Wilke Lake is located in the Sheboygan River watershed which is 260.12 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (47.30%), grassland (17.60%) and a mix of wetland (16.70%) and other uses (18.30%). This watershed has 340.24 stream miles, 4,345.33 lake acres and 27,968.05 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Not Available for runoff impacts on streams, Not Available 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.