Waukesha
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Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Ottawa Lake, in the Scuppernong River Watershed, is a 16.98 acre lake that falls in Waukesha County. This lake is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently not considered impaired.
Date 2011
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Source: 1963, Surface Water Resources of Waukesha County Ottawa Lake T6N R17E, Section 34
A complex remnant lake in an old glacial lake basin, consisting of two depressions connected by deep marsh and shrub swamp. A small outlet stream flows west to a ditching system which enters the Scuppernong River. The fishery consists primarily of pan fish. The entire shore line is in public ownership as part of the southern unit of the Kettle Moraine State Forest. Access at present could be considered adequate for fishing boats. An extensive deep marsh adjoins the lake. Its outlet provides valuable habitat for both waterfowl and upland game birds.
Surface Acres = 28, S.D.F. = 1.35, Maximum Depth> 20 feet
Date 1963
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
General Condition
Ottawa 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
General Condition
Ottawa Lake (822200) was assessed during the 2016 listing cycle; total phosphorus and chlorophyll sample data were clearly below 2016 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Recreation use and Fish and Aquatic Life use. This water is meeting these designated uses 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
Project Name (Click for Details) | Year Started |
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Monitoring Projects
WBIC | Official Waterbody Name | Station ID | Station Name | Earliest Fieldwork Date | Latest Fieldwork Date | View Station | View Data |
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822200 | Ottawa Lake | 683422 | Ottawa Lake - DNR State Forest Beach | 8/10/1998 | 8/22/2024 | Map | Data |
822200 | Ottawa Lake | 10007234 | Ottawa Lake | 7/27/1999 | 7/16/2024 | Map | Data |
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![](wsWaterEcosystem.ashx?watershed=LR15)
Watershed Characteristics
Ottawa Lake is located in the Scuppernong River watershed which is 87.43 miĀ². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (43.40%), forest (21%) and a mix of wetland (17.40%) and other uses (18.10%). This watershed has 159.20 stream miles, 309.65 lake acres and 9,009.01 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Not Ranked for runoff impacts on streams, Low 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.