Overview

Puckaway Lake, in the Buffalo and Puckaway Lakes and Fox River - Berlin Watersheds, is a 5,013.45 acre lake that falls in Green Lake and Marquette Counties. This lake is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently considered impaired.

Date  2011

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

Source: 1971, Surface Water Resources of Green Lake County Lake Puckaway T-15-N, R-11, 12-E, Sections--Many Surface Acres = 5,433; S.D.F. = 2.09 Maximum Depth = 5 feet.

Lake Puckaway is a very shallow widening of the Fox River located in the southwestern part of the county. Silt, muck, and sand are major bottom materials. The Princeton Dam on the Fox River plays an important roll in regulating the levels of Lake Puckaway. In the past there has been much controversy concerning the maintenance of water levels at different times of the year. The lake must be lowered during the winter for flood control purposes and property owners claim this damages fishing and affects the operation of septic tanks. Because the lake is so shallow, there are large expanses of emergent vegetation, of which wild rice is a component. Large numbers of different species of ducks and geese use the lake for nesting and resting. Lake Puckaway is considered to be one of the best coot lakes in the state. Waterfowl hunting pressure is heavy and has resulted in a very high concentration of lead shot in the bottom sediments. The lakeprovides excellent winter and summer fishing, especially for northern pike and panfish. Northern pike, walleye, perch, largemouth bass, bluegill, black crappie, channel catfish, black bullhead, and carp are the most common fish present. White crappie, pumpkinseed, white bass, yellow bass, flathead catfish, white sucker, burbot, sheepshead, and rock sturgeon are also present. Four public access sites with boat ramps are located in the Village of Marquette. Other access sites are located two miles west of Marquette and on the north shore in Marquette County. Development is limited to the Village of Marquette on the south shore and numerous cottages on the north shore. In all, 137 dwellings and two resorts are present. Approximately 50 percent of the shoreline is in wild or semi-wild state.

Date  1971

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

General Condition

Puckaway Lake North Beach was assessed for the 2018 listing cycle; E. coli data sample data were clearly below the 2018 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Recreation use. This beach was meeting this designated use and was not considered impaired.

Date  2017

Author  Ashley Beranek

Impaired Waters

Puckaway Lake (WBIC 158700) was placed on the impaired waters list for total phosphorus and sediment/total suspended solids in 2010. The 2018 assessments showed continued impairment by phosphorus; new total phosphorus and chlorophyll sample data exceeded the 2018 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Recreation use and Fish and Aquatic Life use. Based on the most updated information, no change in existing impaired waters listing was needed.

Date  2017

Author  Ashley Beranek

Impaired Waters

Puckaway Lake (158700) was placed on the impaired waters list for total phosphorus and sediment/total suspended solids in 2010. 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

Recommendations

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

Puckaway Lake is located in the Fox River - Berlin watershed which is 208.74 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (39.30%), wetland (32%) and a mix of forest (13.60%) and other uses (15.10%). This watershed has 328.14 stream miles, 453.54 lake acres and 41,067.20 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked Medium for runoff impacts on streams, Not Available 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.