Crystal Lake (Campground and RV Park Beach), Roxbury Creek Watershed (LW18)
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Crystal Lake (Campground and RV Park Beach), Roxbury Creek Watershed (LW18)
Crystal Lake (Campground and RV Park Beach) (978900)
0.05 Miles
0 - 0.05
Natural Community
Shallow Seepage
Year Last Monitored
2017
Unknown
 
Columbia
Trout Water 
No
Outstanding or Exceptional 
No
Impaired Water 
No

Fish and Aquatic Life

Current Use
Supported Aquatic Life
Attainable Use
Default FAL
Designated Use
Default FAL

Overview

Crystal Lake is a 527-acre shallow, eutrophic, seepage lake, which up until the mid 1980s, was a marsh. Hydrologic changes of the ground water has caused the lake level to increase dramatically, thereby allowing its fishery to change from a winterkill plagued bullhead and minnow lake to one of the best bass and panfish producing waters in the state. Dense, aquatic plants grow in some nearshore areas and a mid to late summer algal bloom occurs. Dead timber lines the shoreline as a result of the recent rise in water level. The lake has received a Lake Planning Grant from the Department of Natural Resources which has been used to contract with the USGS to conduct groundwater modeling. Public access on the lake is inadequate. A fishery survey was conducted on the lake in 2000.

Date  2002

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

Source: 1985, Surface Water Resources of Dane County,WI: WI-DNR Crystal Lake T9N, R7E, Sec. 1 Surface acres 500, SDF = 1.69, Maximum depth = 9 ft.

A large, shallow, land-locked basin, Crystal Lake is located in northwestern Dane and southwestern Columbia counties. The water quality of this lake has deteriorated over the last few decades. The substrate is composed of muck and is covered by a dense growth of macrophytes including sago pondweed, Elodea sp., water--milfoil, bulrush, arrowhead, yellow and white water lilies, and duckweed. Algae blooms occur throughout the summer. Water quality problems are related to fluctuating water levels and runoff from the adjacent trailer park and farmlands. A narrow piece of marsh borders the lake and some of the shoreline has been developed into a trailer park. Residential development has occurred nearby. The remaining shoreline is farmland. Crystal Lake is used heavily by migrating waterfowl and a wide variety of birds can be seen in and around the lake. Winterkill is a continuing problem. Fishing success is poor in years following a winterkill, but good at other times. Bass have been stocked. There is no free public access to the lake, but two commercial liveries provide boats and access for a fee. Fish species: black bullhead, golden shiner, fathead minnow, bluegill, orange spotted sunfish, pumpkinseed, and largemouth bass.

Date  1985

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Waters that support fish and aquatic life communities (healthy biological communities).
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.
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.
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.
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.