Rusk
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Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
, in the Red Cedar Lake Watershed, is a 17.24 acre impoundment that falls in Rusk County. This impoundment is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently not considered impaired.
Date 2011
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Source: 1971, Surface Water Resources of Rusk County Bucks Lake, T36N, R9W, Section 26 Surface Acres = 82.6, Maximum Depth = 18 feet, M.P.A. = 37 ppm, Secchi disk = 6 feet A soft water drainage impoundment on Hemlock Creek. Its outlet has a 12-foot head dam that is maintained by Rusk County. The volume of flow at the dam is approximately 15 cfs. The fish population is composed chiefly of northern pike, bluegills, and perch. The less common fish species present include largemouth bass, black crappies and pumpkinseed. The inlet stream, Hemlock Creek, is considered to be brook trout waters, while downstream from the lake, brown trout are maintained through stocking. About 65 percent of shore cover is mixed hardwood and pine, while the remainder is bordered by marsh and shrub swamp wetlands. The common nesting ducks there are mallards, black and wood ducks and bluewinged teal. Muskrats and beaver are common. An excess growth of aquatic vegetation and numerous stumps and snags occupy the open water areas to a depth of about four feet. The entire lakeshore is in public ownership as Rusk County Forest lands, and consequently, there is no private development. A public access is located midway along the south shore and at the dam site. A camping and picnicking area is also located near the dam. The impoundment and dike were washed out on May 31, 1970 during a locally heavy rainstorm and flash flood.
Date 1971
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
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
| WBIC | Official Waterbody Name | Station ID | Station Name | Earliest Fieldwork Date | Latest Fieldwork Date | View Station | View Data |
|---|
| 2111700 | Bucks Lake | 10009805 | Hemlock Creek 02 (Above S F H) | | | Map | Data |
| 2111700 | Bucks Lake | 10005355 | Bucks Lake | 9/5/2000 | 10/3/2016 | Map | Data |
| 2109700 | Hemlock Creek | 10009805 | Hemlock Creek 02 (Above S F H) | | | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Bucks Lake is located in the Red Cedar Lake watershed which is 140.01 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (74%), wetland (11.20%) and a mix of open (7.40%) and other uses (7.40%). This watershed has 167.65 stream miles, 6,893.24 lake acres and 7,428.58 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Low for runoff impacts on streams, Medium 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.