Waushara
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Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Silver Lake (Big) , in the Pine and Willow Rivers Watershed, is a 328.30 acre lake that falls in Waushara County. This lake is managed for fishing and swimming.
Date 2015
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
A large, hard water seepage lake located two miles southeast of Wautoma. The basin is elongated and deep; over 50 percent of the lake is greater than 20 feet deep. The littoral bottom material is sand. The thermocline develops at 24 feet. Fish species present in this lake include northern pike, walleye, perch, largemouth bass, bluegill, black crappie, rock bass, green sunfish, and bullhead. In the past rainbow trout were stocked. Spring and fall migrant puddle ducks use the lake. Hunting is allowed. There are 269 cottages or dwellings, three resorts, and two boat rentals on the lake. Public access exists in the form of two town roads with parking, and one town road without parking. Source: 1970, Surface Water Resources of Waushara County Silver Lake (Near Wautoma) T-18-N, R-11-E, Sections 6, 7, 8 Surface Acres = 327.9; S.D.F. = 1.85; Maximum Depth = 46 feet
Date 1970
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
General Condition
Big Silver Lake Lake was evaluated every two years between 2014 and 2020 for phosphorus and algae levels and was found to be in good condition. This lake is on the healthy waters list.
Date 2019
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
| WBIC | Official Waterbody Name | Station ID | Station Name | Earliest Fieldwork Date | Latest Fieldwork Date | View Station | View Data |
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| 107900 | Silver Lake | 10019649 | Silver Lake -- Access Off State Hwy 21 | 5/14/1966 | 9/3/2023 | Map | Data |
| 107900 | Silver Lake | 10044710 | Big Silver Lake - SE Foxtail Bay (Herbicide Monitoring Site 5) | 6/8/2020 | 6/10/2020 | Map | Data |
| 107900 | Silver Lake | 10044709 | Big Silver Lake - NW (Herbicide Monitoring Site 1) | | | Map | Data |
| 107900 | Silver Lake | 10032168 | Silver Lake Sample Location B | | | Map | Data |
| 107900 | Silver Lake | 10019332 | Silver Lake -- Access at Near State Hwy 73 | 5/7/2009 | 9/1/2024 | Map | Data |
| 107900 | Silver Lake | 10007383 | Silver Lake (Big Silver Lake Town of Marion) | 5/1/1994 | 7/22/2021 | Map | Data |
| 107900 | Silver Lake | 10032167 | Silver Lake Sample Location A | | | Map | Data |
| 107900 | Silver Lake | 10019337 | Silver Lake -- Access Off N Silver Lake Rd | 6/9/2009 | 8/31/2019 | Map | Data |
| 107900 | Silver Lake | 703120 | Silver Lake - Deep Hole - North Basin | 5/28/2004 | 8/27/2024 | Map | Data |
| 107900 | Silver Lake | 10044712 | Big Silver Lake - W side of S Basin (Herbicide Monitoring Site 3) | | | Map | Data |
| 107900 | Silver Lake | 703018 | Silver Lake - Deep Hole South Basin (Near Wautoma) | 2/10/1977 | 8/16/2024 | Map | Data |
| 107900 | Silver Lake | 10053774 | Silver Lake - Herbicide Monitoring Site FT-1 | 6/8/2020 | 6/10/2020 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Silver Lake is located in the Pine and Willow Rivers watershed which is 302.08 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (34.40%), agricultural (27.80%) and a mix of wetland (19.20%) and other uses (18.70%). This watershed has 377.48 stream miles, 11,273.01 lake acres and 33,136.61 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.