Manitowoc
No
No
Yes
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Carstens Lake, the headwaters of Pine Creek, is one of four small lakes in the Sevenmile-Silver Creek Watershed. It is a hard water seepage lake in a ground moraine, with a surface area of 20 acres, a maximum depth of 30 feet, and a mean depth of 12 feet. The total shoreline length is 0.77 miles, with 0.3 miles in public ownership. Six acres of wetlands adjoin the lake, which drains a 1.0 square mile watershed. Northern pike are present, largemouth bass and panfish are abundant.
Carstens Lake is a high priority for sensitive area designation. Sensitive areas are areas of aquatic vegetation offering critical or unique fish and wildlife habitat, water quality protection, or erosion control benefits to the lake. Refer to the Aquatic Plant Management Program in the Lakes Report for additional information on sensitive area designation.
In 1982, the lake was treated with a piscicide to eliminate excessive rough fish populations and a fish barrier was placed at the lake outlet. Since the rough fish were removed, water clarity has improved, no longer algae dominated, and macrophyte (rooted aquatic plant) populations have increased. Current activities include an aeration program run by the Manitowoc County Lakes Association. In 1995 and 1996 algae dominated the lake. Rooted aquatic plants were scarce. In the past rooted aquatic plants were observed in large quantities and were said to inhibit recreational use of the lake (Ward 1996).
The aeration of Carstens lake is conducted as needed. Currently, the Bureau of Fisheries Management and Habitat Protection cannot operate the aerator; unless sport club members volunteer to run the aerator, it will not be operated in the near future (Hogler 1996).
In 1994 a WDNR biologist identified and confirmed the presence of Eurasian water milfoil in Carstens Lake (Johnson 1994).
Date 2002
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Source: 1968, Surface Water Resources of Manitowoc County Carsten Lake, T18N, R23E, Section 17 Surface acres - 20, S.D.F. = 1.23, Maximum depth = 30 feet.
A hard water seepage lake in ground moraine. The water is turbid and the bottom mucky. The lake constitutes the headwaters of Pine Creek with the outlet at the southeast end. Managed for largemouth bass, crappies and bluegills, it experiences no major use problems. Access is available through a town road and county park. Adjacent wetlands total 6 acres, one-half of which is wooded. Waterfowl make limited use of the lake and hunting is permitted.
Date 1968
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
General Condition
In 1982, the lake was treated with a piscicide to eliminate excessive rough fish populations and a fish barrier was placed at the lake outlet. Since the rough fish were removed, water clarity has improved, no longer algae dominated, and macrophyte (rooted aquatic plant) populations have increased. Current activities include an aeration program.
In 1995 and 1996 algae dominated the lake. Rooted aquatic plants were scarce. In the past rooted aquatic plants were observed in large quantities and were said to inhibit recreational use of the lake (Ward 1996). The aeration of Carstens lake is conducted as needed. Currently, the Bureau of Fisheries Management and Habitat Protection cannot operate the aerator; unless sport club members volunteer to run the aerator, it will not be operated in the near future (Hogler 1996).
In 1994 a WDNR biologist identified and confirmed the presence of Eurasian water milfoil in Carstens Lake (Johnson 1994). Carstens Lake Manitowoc County T18N, R23E, Sec. 17
Date 1997
Author Aquatic Biologist
Impaired Waters
Carstens Lake (WBIC 66800) was placed on the impaired waters list for 2014. The 2018 assessments showed continued impairment by phosphorus; new 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, and nearly exceeded the FAL use thresholds. Based on the most updated information, no change in existing impaired waters listing was needed.
Date 2017
Author Ashley Beranek
Impaired Waters
Carstens Lake (66800) was placed on the impaired waters list for 2014. The 2016 assessments showed continued impairment by phosphorus; total phosphorus sample data overwhelmingly exceed 2016 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Recreation use, exceeded Fish and Aquatic Life use, and chlorophyll data exceeded REC and FAL thresholds. Based on the most updated information, no change in existing impaired waters listing is needed.
Date 2015
Author Aaron Larson
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 |
|---|
| 66800 | Carstens Lake | 363036 | Carstens Lake - Deep Hole - Middle | 2/11/1976 | 8/26/2024 | Map | Data |
| 66800 | Carstens Lake | 10003543 | Carstens Lake | 6/1/1993 | 7/7/2020 | Map | Data |
| 66800 | Carstens Lake | 363373 | Carstens Lake -- Boat Landing | 3/12/2002 | 10/23/2022 | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Carstens Lake is located in the Sevenmile and Silver Creeks watershed which is 112.90 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (57.20%), grassland (18.40%) and a mix of wetland (7.50%) and other uses (16.80%). This watershed has 184.08 stream miles, 10,577.89 lake acres and 4,732.70 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.