Vilas
No
No
Yes
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Little Arbor Vitae Lake, in the Upper Tomahawk River Watershed, is a 479.89 acre lake that falls in Vilas County. This lake is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently considered impaired.
Date 2016
Author Ashley Beranek
Historical Description
Source: 1963, Surface Water Resources of Vilas County Arbor Vitae (Little) Lake, T-40-N, R-7-E, Sections 27, 28 29, 32, 33, and 34, Area = 533 Surface Acres, Maximum Depth = 32 feet.
Little Arbor Vitae Lake is a highly fertile drainage lake endowed with clear, alkaline water of low transparency due to an abundance of planktonic algae. The lake is considered a muskellunge-walleye water with muskellunge rated as abundant and walleyes common. Largemouth bass are also common in the lake. Both weeds and algae become a nuisance in this lake and there is evidence of slow growth in the pan fish. Wild ducks use the lake on their spring and fall migrations. Public use facilities are excellent; in addition to access with parking from State Highway 70, there is a state parking area and three resorts. Boat rental facilities are available.
Date 1963
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
Recommendations
Best Management Practices, Implement
Partnering with property owners, the applicant is sponsoring a grant to implement water quality and habitat best practices from Wisconsin's Healthy Lakes Implementation Plan. Best practices, including fish sticks, 350 sq. ft. native plantings, diversions, rock infiltration, and/or rain gardens, will be designed and installed according to the Healthy Lakes fact sheets, technical guidance and grant application.
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 |
|---|
| 1545300 | Little Arbor Vitae Lake | 10005974 | Little Arbor Vitae | 7/27/1999 | 7/18/2020 | Map | Data |
| 1545300 | Little Arbor Vitae Lake | 644033 | Little Arbor Vitae Lake - Little Arbor Vitae Lake | 8/23/1979 | 8/23/1979 | Map | Data |
| 1544400 | Minocqua Thoroughfare | 10039692 | Minocqua Thoroughfare at Winats Rd | | | Map | Data |
| 1545300 | Little Arbor Vitae Lake | 643074 | Little Arbor Vitae Lake - Deep Hole | 9/5/1979 | 8/21/2024 | Map | Data |
| 1545300 | Little Arbor Vitae Lake | 10018657 | Little Arbor Vitae Lake -- Boat Launch | 5/14/2005 | 8/20/2024 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Little Arbor Vitae 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.