Pavlas Lake, Shell Lake and Upper Yellow River Watershed (SC15)
Pavlas Lake, Shell Lake and Upper Yellow River Watershed (SC15)
Pavlas Lake (2488100)
44.15 Acres
Natural Community
Natural communities (stream and lake natural communities) represent model results that use predicted flow and temperature based on landscape features and related assumptions. Ranges of flow and temperature associated with specific aquatic life communities (fish, macroinvertebrates) help biologists identify appropriate resource management goals. Wisconsin Natural Communities.
Deep Seepage
Year Last Monitored
This is the most recent date of monitoring data stored in SWIMS. Additional surveys for fish and habitat may be available subsequent to this date.
2016
Good
 
Washburn
Trout Water 
Trout Waters are represented by Class I, Class II or Class III waters. These classes have specific ecological characteristics and management actions associated with them. For more information regarding Trout Classifications, see the Fisheries Trout Class Webpages.
No
Outstanding or Exceptional 
Wisconsin has designated many of the state's highest quality waters as Outstanding Resource Waters (ORWs) or Exceptional Resource Waters (ERWs). Waters designated as ORW or ERW are surface waters which provide outstanding recreational opportunities, support valuable fisheries and wildlife habitat, have good water quality, and are not significantly impacted by human activities. ORW and ERW status identifies waters that the State of Wisconsin has determined warrant additional protection from the effects of pollution. These designations are intended to meet federal Clean Water Act obligations requiring Wisconsin to adopt an 'antidegradation' policy that is designed to prevent any lowering of water quality - especially in those waters having significant ecological or cultural value.
No
Impaired Water 
A water is polluted or 'impaired' if it does not support full use by humans, wildlife, fish and other aquatic life and it is shown that one or more of the pollutant criteria are not met.
No

Fish and Aquatic Life

Current Use
The use the water currently supports. This is not a designation or classification; it is based on the current condition of the water. Information in this column is not designed for, and should not be used for, regulatory purposes.
Deep Seepage
Deep seepage lake describes the depth and hydrologic charactertistics of the lake. These variables affect the lakes response to watershed variables.
Attainable Use
The use that the investigator believes the water could achieve through managing "controllable" sources. Beaver dams, hydroelectric dams, low gradient streams, and naturally occurring low flows are generally not considered controllable. The attainable use may be the same as the current use or it may be higher.
Default FAL
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.
Designated Use
This is the water classification legally recognized by NR102 and NR104, Wis. Adm. Code. The classification determines water quality criteria and effluent limits. Waters obtain designated uses through classification procedures.
Default FAL
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.

Overview

Pavlas Lake, in the Shell Lake and Upper Yellow River Watershed, is a 44.15 acre lake that falls in Washburn County. This lake is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently not considered impaired.

Date  2011

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

This 44 acre seepage lake experiences periodic algae blooms that may be related to runoff
problems from a relatively small watershed. A feasibility study to assess the lake and watershed
conditions would be desireable. Organization of the lakeshore community and the recruitment
of a self-help volunteer would be the logical first steps.

Date  1992

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Historical Description

Source: 1978, Surface Water Resources of Washburn County

Pavlas Lake, T37N, R11W, Section 6, 7, Surface Acres-44.2, Maximum
Depth-45 feet, M.P.A.-10 ppm, Secchi Disk-7 feet

A soft water, seepage lake located a mile east of Sarona. It is a
long, narrow lake lying on a north and south axis. The two basins of the
lake are separated by an eleven foot depth of water. The north basin is
about 20 feet deep while the large south one has 45 feet of depth. The
fishery includes walleyes, northern pike, largemouth bass, bluegills,
black crappies, pumpkinseeds, perch, brown bullheads, yellow bullheads,
and white suckers. Nearly one-half of the lake's watershed is in
agricultural land use, making it unlike most lakes in the county. The
immediate lakeshore use and cover is 55 percent wooded with hardwoods, 40
percent pastured or cultivated, and 5 percent developed. Small sedge
meadows are located at the north and south ends with a total area of
three acres. The littoral bottom is 85 percent gravel, 10 percent
boulder and 5 percent muck. The water, though quite transparent in
quality, tends to become turbid in midsummer. Aquatic vegetation growth
is moderate along the shore fringe and species composition is indicative
of soft water lakes.
Watershield and white water lilies are common floating species, and
along shore there are spike rushes, cattail and Alisma. Furbearer use is
minor but a few mallards and wood ducks are raised here each year. Other
migratory waterfowl use is small. Private lakeshore development is
limited to one cottage on the immediate shore. The only public frontage
is the Town of Long Lake accesssite on the west shore that has only
limited parking space available.

Date  1978

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Pavlas Lake, Shell Lake and Upper Yellow River Watershed (SC15) Fish and Aquatic LifePavlas Lake, Shell Lake and Upper Yellow River Watershed (SC15) RecreationPavlas Lake, Shell Lake and Upper Yellow River Watershed (SC15) Fish Consumption

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

Watershed Characteristics

Pavlas Lake is located in the Shell Lake and Upper Yellow River watershed which is 166.67 miĀ². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (56.10%), agricultural (12.10%) and a mix of grassland (11%) and other uses (20.70%). This watershed has 118.54 stream miles, 5,764.04 lake acres and 9,834.60 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.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.

Natural Community

Pavlas Lake is considered a Deep Seepage 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.

Deep seepage lake describes the depth and hydrologic charactertistics of the lake. These variables affect the lakes response to watershed variables.

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