St. Croix
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Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Perch Lake is a hardwater, seepage lake, landlocked and having the greatest maximum depth of any lake in St. Croix County. Though managed for brook and rainbow trout, it also has populations of walleyes, largemouth bass, bluegills, black crappies, pumpkinseeds, green sunfish, yellow bullheads, carp and white suckers. A public access is located at the lake's south end off a town road. There is a boat livery available and private development consists of 5 cottages. A number of ducks of both the puddle and divers groups use the lake during migratory periods though they seldom nest here. Local ordinance restricts motor horsepower size and motor boat use hours.
Perch Lake T30N R19W, S28 Surface Acres = 42.5 S.D.F. = 1.42 Maximum Depth = 63 feet Source: 1961, Surface Water Resources of St.Croix Co.
Date 1961
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Perch Lake is recommended as an Outstanding Resource Water to be included in NR 102 by Department staff. The lake has excellent water clarity, a diverse aquatic plant community and the ability to support a two story fishery. The lake ecosystem is threatened by the potential rural residential development of the watershed and shoreline. A significant portion of the shoreline is currently utilized as a private recreational park and the park could potentially be developed if this use changes.
Date 1992
Author Aquatic Biologist
General Condition
Perch Lake Beach was assessed for the 2018 listing cycle; E. coli data sample data were clearly below the 2018 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Recreation use. This beach was meeting this designated use and was not considered impaired.
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
Improve Public Access
St. Croix Co. proposes to construct a main park entrance road, one-way park access roads to and from Perch Lake, six parking areas and two infiltration basins. Grading and erosion control measures are designed to protect the water quality of Perch Lake.
Land Acquisition
St. Croix County will acquire 19.8 acres with all rights to land on Perch Lake that will expsnd it's day-use park called Homestead Parklands. The county purchase of the Onstott property will include 100 feet of shoreline at the north end of the property on Perch Lake. 268 feet of shoreline on Perch Lake at the south end of the Onstott property will be protected with the purchase of a conservation easement on 9.2 acres of the property.
Land Acquisition
St. Croix County shall participate in the Lake Protection Grant Program by purchasing approximately 67.05 acres of land in the Perch Lake watershed for lake protection purposes.
Lakes Protection Grant
Perch Lake should be considered a high priority to receive lake protection grants for the protection of environmentally sensitive lands.
which will facilitate water quality protection.
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 |
|---|
| 2488300 | Perch Lake | 10007651 | Perch Lake - Homestead Parklands Beach | 6/3/2003 | 7/22/2024 | Map | Data |
| 2488300 | Perch Lake | 10007852 | Perch Lake | 3/29/1967 | 8/19/2017 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Perch Lake is located in the Lower Willow River watershed which is 164.38 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (32.10%), forest (25.40%) and a mix of grassland (23.70%) and other uses (18.80%). This watershed has 99.33 stream miles, 2,139.74 lake acres and 2,482.81 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.