Outagamie
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No
Yes
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Black Otter Lake (Hortonville), in the Wolf River - New London and Bear Creek Watershed, is a 78.16 acre lake that falls in Outagamie County. This lake is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently not considered impaired.
Date 2018
Author Ashley Beranek
Historical Description
Source: 1973, Surface Water Resources of Outagamie County Black Otter Lake, T22N, R15E, Sec. 35, 36, Area = 74.7 acres, Depth = 9 feet, Secchi Disk = 5 feet, M.P.A. = 194 ppm.
This is a light brown hard water impoundment on Black Otter Creek located within the corporate limits of Hortonville. Bottom materials in the littoral zone consist of sand, silt, and muck. Very dense beds of a wide variety of aquatic vegetation are common. The lake is plagued by periodic winterkills due to the lack of fresh oxygen bearing water entering the pond during some winters. In the absence of winterkill conditions, the fishery consists of northern pike, largemouth bass, bluegills, and perch. The lake also serves as a waterfowl nesting and resting spot. Duck hunting is allowed at the upper end away from Hortonville. Development consists of eleven dwellings and one county park with a boat launching ramp. Black Otter Creek serves as both inlet and outlet to this impoundment.
Date 1973
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
Impaired Waters
Black Otter Lake (WBIC 315600) was placed on the impaired waters list for total phosphorus in 2016. The 2018 assessments showed continued impairment by phosphorus; total phosphorus sample data overwhelmingly exceeded the 2018 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Recreation use and Fish and Aquatic Life use. Chlorophyll-a sample data exceeded the REC use thresholds. Based on the most updated information the impairment of Excess Algal Growth was added to the Total Phosphorus listing.
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
Nutrient Budget Development
Aquatic Plant Management Plan
Black Otter Lake District proposes to conduct an aquatic plant restoration project. A total of 6,300 plants will be planted in 2 inlet areas of Black Otter Lake, totaling an area of 5.1 acres. The project goals are 1) improve water quality of Black Otter Lake by removing excess nutrients, 2) stabilize shoreline and lake bottom, 3) filter sediments, 4) provide habitat for fish and wildlife, 5) discourage the growth of algae and other undesirable plants.
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 |
|---|
| 315600 | Black Otter Lake (Hortonville) | 10035059 | Culvert #3 Lakeshore Drive - East | 5/3/2012 | 10/14/2012 | Map | Data |
| 315600 | Black Otter Lake (Hortonville) | 453121 | Black Otter Lake - Deep Hole | 6/12/1986 | 7/28/2019 | Map | Data |
| 315600 | Black Otter Lake (Hortonville) | 453274 | Black Otter Lake Unnamed Trib To - T21nR15e Sec 1 | 4/24/2002 | 11/4/2002 | Map | Data |
| 315600 | Black Otter Lake (Hortonville) | 453275 | Black Otter Lake Unnamed Trib To - T22nR15eSec 36 | 4/24/2002 | 8/20/2022 | Map | Data |
| 315600 | Black Otter Lake (Hortonville) | 10019222 | Black Otter Lake -- Access | 5/3/2012 | 8/8/2023 | Map | Data |
| 315600 | Black Otter Lake (Hortonville) | 10004714 | Black Otter Lake | 11/1/1994 | 5/30/2021 | Map | Data |
| 315600 | Black Otter Lake (Hortonville) | 10035057 | Culvert #1 at dam Black Otter Lake | | | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Black Otter Lake (Hortonville) is located in the Wolf River - New London and Bear Creek watershed which is 142.49 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (43.70%), wetland (25%) and a mix of grassland (15.10%) and other uses (16.30%). This watershed has 247.64 stream miles, 423.05 lake acres and 21,530.26 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Medium for runoff impacts on streams, Medium 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.