Overview

SPRING LAKE
T17N, R22E, Section 5; Manitowoc County
Surface Acres = 8, S.D.F. = 1.51, Maximum Depth = 23 feet

Spring Lake is a small, seepage lake in terminal moraine encompassing approximately 8 acres of surface water. The maximum depth of the lake is 23 feet with an average depth of 11 feet and lake volume of 88 acre-feet. Spring Lake is located in a 48-acre direct drainage basin. The fish community is comprised of largemouth bass, panfish, and northern pike. Access and parking is available by a town road (WDNR 1968).

The dominant land uses within the Spring Lake subwatershed are agriculture and forest (Olson and Helsel 1997). The estimated annual total phosphorus load to the lake from the watershed and deposition is estimated at 13 lbs. Olson and Helsel (1997) determined that agriculture and urban land uses are estimated to contribute the greatest percentage of phosphorus of 46% and 20%, respectively to the lake; while no other sources contribute more than 17% to the annual phosphorus load.

Water Resource Conditions
Spring Lake is classified as a mesotrophic lake with relatively low nutrient and chlorophyll a concentration and good water quality (Olson and Helsel 1997). The 1996 spring total phosphorus reading was at 20 ug/L with the average surface summer phosphorus concentrations ranging from 12 ug/L to 15 ug/L. The TSI values are classified as mesotrophic ranging between 40 and 50 (Figure 28).

Water Resource Objectives and Management Recommendations
The water resource objectives and management recommendations for Spring Lake are to reduce the existing phosphorus load 50% overall from the existing conditions (13 lbs/yr) to best managed conditions (6.5 lbs/yr) (Olson and Helsel 1997). Specific best management practices should target nutrient sources from adjacent agricultural land.

Date  2001

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

Source: 1968, Surface Water Resources of Manitowoc County Spring Lake, T17N, R22E, Section 5 Surface acres - 8, S.D.F. = 1.51, Maximum depth = 24 feet.

A small, seepage lake in terminal moraine. The clear water is hard and alkaline. Littoral material is muck. An intermittent outlet at the northeast end may drain the lake during periods of high water. The lake is managed for largemouth bass, panfish and northern pike. Rainbow trout are present, but they will not be stocked in the future. Stunted panfish are the major use problem. The shoreline is almost completely wild and includes one acre of wooded wetland. There are 3 dwellings on the shoreline and a boat livery. A town road provides access to about 60 feet of public frontage with parking space to accommodate 30 cars. Limited numbers of waterfowl use the lake and hunting is permitted.

Date  1968

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

General Condition

Spring Lake (63700) was assessed during the 2016 listing cycle; chlorophyll sample data were clearly below 2016 WisCALM listing thresholds for Recreation use and Fish and Aquatic Life use. Total phosphorus sample data were clearly below FAL use listing thresholds and did not exceed REC listing thresholds. 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

Monitoring Projects

Watershed Characteristics

Spring Lake is located in the Pigeon River watershed which is 78.87 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (57.30%), grassland (18.60%) and a mix of forest (10.20%) and other uses (13.90%). This watershed has 110.34 stream miles, 769.54 lake acres and 3,149.60 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.