12.68 Acres
Reservoir
2024
Poor
Impairment Unknown, Excess Algal Growth
Total Phosphorus
Milwaukee, Waukesha
No
No
Yes
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Upper Kelly Lake, in the Root River Watershed, is a 12.68 acre lake that falls in Milwaukee and Waukesha Counties. This lake is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently considered impaired.
Date 2018
Author Ashley Beranek
Historical Description
A elongate lake in a marshy valley in glacial drift. Largemouth bass and pan fish constitute the fishery. Rough fish and stunted pan fish are major use problems. About 15 acres of fresh meadow on the south and west shores somewhat limitpossibilities for homesite development, but add to the aesthetic value of the lake environs. Public access is not available. Source: 1963, Surface Water Resources of Waukesha County Upper Kelly ake T6N, R20, 21E, Sections 36 and 31 Surface Acres = 11.7, S.D.F. = 1.14, Maximum Depth = 31 feet
Date 1963
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
Impaired Waters
Upper Kelly Lake (WBIC 7100) was placed on the impaired waters list for total phosphorus in 2014. The 2018 assessments showed continued impairment by phosphorus; new total phosphorus sample data exceeded the 2018 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Recreation use and Fish and Aquatic Life use. Chlorophyll-a sample data exceeded REC use thresholds, and clearly met the FAL use thresholds. Based on the most updated information, no change in the existing impaired waters listing was needed.
Date 2017
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
Restore Wetlands
The Kelly Lakes Association will undertake a wetland restoration and stream relocation project on property owned by the KLA in the City of New Berlin, WI.
Land Acquisition
The Kelly Lakes Association will acquire seven properties, approximately nine acres located on Upper Kelly Lake. Time extention given in 03/2003. This was the actual first extention given by the region due to wrong date put on the grant agreement when sent out in the beginning.
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 |
|---|
| 7100 | Upper Kelly Lake | 10004053 | Upper Kelly Lake | 6/1/1997 | 3/10/2020 | Map | Data |
| 7100 | Upper Kelly Lake | 10051128 | Upper Kelly Lake - Access off S Kurtz Road | 5/19/2018 | 8/30/2018 | Map | Data |
| 7100 | Upper Kelly Lake | 683376 | Upper Kelly Lake - Deep Hole | 9/23/1994 | 9/9/2024 | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Upper Kelly Lake is located in the Root River watershed which is 198.97 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (43.10%), suburban (25%) and a mix of urban (9.80%) and other uses (22.20%). This watershed has 306.47 stream miles, 967.77 lake acres and 6,175.95 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.
Upper Kelly Lake is considered a Reservoir under the state's Natural Community Determinations.
Natural communities (stream and lake natural communities) represent model results and DNR staff valiation processes that confirm or update predicted conditions based on flow and temperature modeling from historic and current landscape features and related variables. Predicated flow and temperatures for waters are associated predicated fish assemblages (communities). Biologists evaluate the model results against current survey data to determine if the modeled results are corect and whether biological indicators show water quaity degradation. This analysis is a core component of the state's resource management framework. Wisconsin's Riverine Natural Communities.