Pierce
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Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Nugget Lake was created in 1972 as a flood control and recreational impoundment on Plum Creek.
The 752-acre Nugget Lake County Park encompasses the entire lake. The lake experiences frequent
algal blooms, dense aquatic plant growth in shallow areas, and a hlgh sedimentation rate near the
inlet. Pierce County conducted an in-lake water quality and watershed assessment in 1991 through
the Lakes Planning Grant program.
The lakes planning grant was used to evaluate lake water quality, measure lake sedimentation rate,
survey tributary streambank erosion and tributary water quality, and assess watershed land use. This
study found significant sources of polluted runoff in the Nugget Lake watershed and concluded that
agricultural activities are the major cause of water quality problems, and if these sources of polluted
Anoff are controlled, water quality will improve ( ~ a r r Engineering). Due to ths assessment, Nugget
Lake has ranked as a high priority for selection as a priority lakes project. A lakes planning grant
would further work and/or study of ths lake.
Pierce County has begun to address water quality problems in Nugget Lake. The county used a
Recreational Boating Facilities grant to purchase an aquatic plant harvesting system used to create
boating access channels through areas of dense growth. Nugget Lake County Park staff have
participated in the water quality monitoring through the expanded Self-Help Lake Monitoring
program since 1988.
Date 1996
Author Aquatic Biologist
General Condition
Nugget Lake is on the 303(d) list due to mercury from atmospheric deposition.
A recent TSI package result indicates that the water is considered in "good" condition from satellite data. TSI - Satellite, 48.0-55.0, Good 03/13/2012 TSI = 54; Sample Count = 6; Year Count = 3; Years 2007-2011
Date 2014
Author Lisa Helmuth
Impaired Waters
Nugget Lake is on the 303(d) list due to mercury from atmospheric deposition.
A recent TSI package result indicates that the water is considered in "good" condition from satellite data. TSI - Satellite, 48.0-55.0, Good 03/13/2012 TSI = 54; Sample Count = 6; Year Count = 3; Years 2007-2011
Date 2014
Author Lisa Helmuth
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
Shoreland Ordinance
Pierce County proposes to amend or create a shoreland zoning ordinance that complies with the requirements of NR 115, Wisconsin Administrative Code (as revised effective February 1, 2010) and retain existing regulations that exceed the water resource protections of NR 115 or are specific or unique to local needs.
Monitor Fish Tissue
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 |
|---|
| 2053400 | Nugget Lake | 10047682 | Nugget Lake -- County Park Canoe Launch | | | Map | Data |
| 2053400 | Nugget Lake | 10004759 | Nugget Lake | 4/6/1991 | 9/6/2023 | Map | Data |
| 2053400 | Nugget Lake | 10018493 | Nugget Lake -- Access | | | Map | Data |
| 2053400 | Nugget Lake | 483049 | Nugget Lake - Dam End | 6/21/1988 | 9/9/2003 | Map | Data |
| 2053400 | Nugget Lake | 483062 | Nugget Lake - Park End Of Lake | 5/8/1990 | 7/18/1996 | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Nugget Lake is located in the Plum Creek watershed which is 140.59 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (43.30%), forest (38%) and a mix of grassland (12%) and other uses (6.70%). This watershed has 314.86 stream miles, 793.61 lake acres and 3,140.16 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Medium 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.This water is ranked High Lake for individual Unknowns based on runoff problems and the likelihood of success from project implementation.