Big Saint Germain Lake, St. Germain River Watershed (UW43)
Big Saint Germain Lake, St. Germain River Watershed (UW43)
Big Saint Germain Lake (1591100)
1621.76 Acres
Natural Community
Natural communities (stream and lake natural communities) represent model results that use predicted flow and temperature based on landscape features and related assumptions. Ranges of flow and temperature associated with specific aquatic life communities (fish, macroinvertebrates) help biologists identify appropriate resource management goals. Wisconsin Natural Communities.
Two-Story
Year Last Monitored
This is the most recent date of monitoring data stored in SWIMS. Additional surveys for fish and habitat may be available subsequent to this date.
2024
Poor
 
This lake is impaired
Excess Algal Growth, Eutrophication
Total Phosphorus
 
Vilas
Trout Water 
Trout Waters are represented by Class I, Class II or Class III waters. These classes have specific ecological characteristics and management actions associated with them. For more information regarding Trout Classifications, see the Fisheries Trout Class Webpages.
No
Outstanding or Exceptional 
Wisconsin has designated many of the state's highest quality waters as Outstanding Resource Waters (ORWs) or Exceptional Resource Waters (ERWs). Waters designated as ORW or ERW are surface waters which provide outstanding recreational opportunities, support valuable fisheries and wildlife habitat, have good water quality, and are not significantly impacted by human activities. ORW and ERW status identifies waters that the State of Wisconsin has determined warrant additional protection from the effects of pollution. These designations are intended to meet federal Clean Water Act obligations requiring Wisconsin to adopt an 'antidegradation' policy that is designed to prevent any lowering of water quality - especially in those waters having significant ecological or cultural value.
No
Impaired Water 
A water is polluted or 'impaired' if it does not support full use by humans, wildlife, fish and other aquatic life and it is shown that one or more of the pollutant criteria are not met.
Yes

Fish and Aquatic Life

Current Use
The use the water currently supports. This is not a designation or classification; it is based on the current condition of the water. Information in this column is not designed for, and should not be used for, regulatory purposes.
Restricted Aquatic Life
Fish and Aquatic Life communities are not fully supported in this ecosystem.
Attainable Use
The use that the investigator believes the water could achieve through managing "controllable" sources. Beaver dams, hydroelectric dams, low gradient streams, and naturally occurring low flows are generally not considered controllable. The attainable use may be the same as the current use or it may be higher.
Default FAL
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.
Designated Use
This is the water classification legally recognized by NR102 and NR104, Wis. Adm. Code. The classification determines water quality criteria and effluent limits. Waters obtain designated uses through classification procedures.
Default FAL
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.

Overview

Big Saint Germain Lake, in the St. Germain River Watershed, is a 1,621.72 acre lake that falls in Vilas County. This lake is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently considered impaired.

Date  2014

Author  Ashley Beranek

Historical Description

Source: 1963, Surface Water Resources of Vilas County St. Germain (Big) Lake T-40-N, R-8-E, Sections 19, 20

Big St. Germain is a drainage lake of moderate fertility. It has alkaline, clear water of moderate transparency. The bottom material consists chiefly of sand, with some gravel, rock and muck. Both the inlet and the outlet streams are considered navigable. The principal fish species present in the lake are muskellunge, northern pike, walleye, large and smallmouth bass and pan fish. The lake has a fluctuating water level problem which is created by a water control structure, three feet in height located at the outlet of Fawn Lake, which is down river from Big St. Germain. Presently, there is no public access to this lake except by navigable water. Public use facilities include 11 resorts with boat rentals. There is one commercially operated campground and 38 cottages are located on the shore line. The lake is of little significance to fur bearers. The lake is used by mallard, black and bluewing teal ducks as a nesting site. The lake is also of value to ducks on the spring and fall migration, as well as to coots and Canada geese. The lake is one of the more popular diving duck hunting areas.

Area = 1,463 Surface Acres, Maximum Depth = 35 feet

Date  1963

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Big Saint Germain Lake, St. Germain River Watershed (UW43) Fish and Aquatic LifeBig Saint Germain Lake, St. Germain River Watershed (UW43) RecreationBig Saint Germain Lake, St. Germain River Watershed (UW43) Fish Consumption

Impaired Waters

Big Saint Germain Lake was evaluated for phosphorus and algae every two years between 2014 and 2022. Phosphorus levels were found to be too high, which was reflected in algal blooms.

Date  2022

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

Recommendations

County Land and Water Management Plan
Town of St. Germain proposes an extensive land and water resource protection program that includes the areas in and around Big and Little St. Germain, Lost Lake and other area water resources. This project will be a broad based long term cooperative planning effort involving the St. Germain Planning Committee, town officials, UW-Extension office and concerned citizens.

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

Big Saint Germain Lake is located in the St. Germain River watershed which is 70.11 miĀ². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (74.60%), open (13.90%) and a mix of wetland (10.70%) and other uses (0.80%). This watershed has 39.57 stream miles, 3,101.31 lake acres and 5,357.65 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

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

Natural Community

Big Saint Germain Lake is considered a Two-Story under the state's Natural Community Determinations.

Natural communities (stream and lake natural communities) represent model results and DNR staff valiation processes that confirm or update predicted conditions based on flow and temperature modeling from historic and current landscape features and related variables. Predicated flow and temperatures for waters are associated predicated fish assemblages (communities). Biologists evaluate the model results against current survey data to determine if the modeled results are corect and whether biological indicators show water quaity degradation. This analysis is a core component of the state's resource management framework. Wisconsin's Riverine Natural Communities.

Shallow headwater lake describes the depth and location of the lake in a watershed. These variables affect the lakes response to watershed variables.