Oneida, Vilas
No
No
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Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Squirrel Lake, in the Upper Tomahawk River Watershed, is a 1,309.46 acre lake that falls in Oneida and Vilas Counties. This lake is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently not considered impaired.
Date 2011
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Source: 1966, Surface Water Resources of Oneida County Squirrel Lake, T39N, R5E, Section 17 Surface Acres = 1,352, S.D.F. = 2.21, Maximum Depth = 43 feet.
A soft water drainage lake having slightly acid clear water of low transparency. Transparency at time of survey was affected by an algae bloom. Sand is the predominant littoral material (55 percent) with muck (20 percent), gravel (10 percent), rubble (12 percent) and some boulders. Shoreline is predominantly upland (70 percent) with bog and meadow wetland adjoining significant portions of the lake basin. Submergent vegetation is moderate in density. Muskellunge, northern pike, walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, perch, bluegill, crappie, rock bass, pumpkinseed, bullhead and sucker are fish species inhabiting this lake. Public access with limited parking off a town road is available. Thirteen resorts, three boat rentals and 83 dwellings are located on the shoreline. Mallard, black duck, blue-winged teal, wood duck, hooded merganser and loon use this lake as a nesting site. Puddle ducks, diving ducks, coot and Canada geese utilize this lake on their fall migrations. Lake levels are maintained by a water control structure of five head feet located on the outlet stream.
Date 1966
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
General Condition
Squirrel Lake (1536300) was assessed during the 2016 listing cycle; total phosphorus sample data were clearly below 2016 WisCALM listing thresholds for Recreation use and Fish and Aquatic Life use. Chlorophyll 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
| WBIC | Official Waterbody Name | Station ID | Station Name | Earliest Fieldwork Date | Latest Fieldwork Date | View Station | View Data |
|---|
| 1536300 | Squirrel Lake | 443268 | Squirrel Lake - Deep Hole | 9/6/1979 | 7/25/2024 | Map | Data |
| 1536300 | Squirrel Lake | 10018696 | Squirrel Lake -- Access Nr Carter Rd | 8/22/2011 | 7/31/2020 | Map | Data |
| 1536300 | Squirrel Lake | 10018895 | Squirrel Lake -- Access Off Kobart Rd | 6/25/2006 | 8/18/2023 | Map | Data |
| 1536300 | Squirrel Lake | 10001453 | Squirrel Lake | 8/29/2000 | 7/25/2024 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Squirrel Lake is located in the Upper Tomahawk River watershed which is 186.83 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (67%), wetland (16%) and a mix of open (14%) and other uses (3.10%). This watershed has 139.00 stream miles, 17,609.90 lake acres and 20,470.21 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked High for runoff impacts on streams, High 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.