Vilas
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Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Eagle Lake (Eagle Chain), in the Eagle River Watershed, is a 574.82 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
Eagle Lake, T-40-N, R-10-E, Sections 22, 23, 26, and 27,
Area = 591 Surface Acres, Maximum Depth = 27 feet
Eagle Lake is a drainage lake of moderate fertility. The lake
has clear, slightly alkaline water of low to moderate transparency
depending somewhat upon the algal response to thelake's fertility.
The bottom is composed of a variety of materials of which muck and
sand predominate. The muskellunge and walleye are the principal
game fish present in the lake. Walleyes are considered to be
abundant and muskellunge are rated as present. Other game fishes
present are the northern pike, large and smallmouth bass. The over
abundance of crayfish are a problem. Public access is available by
a town road with parking and, of course, through navigable water as
this lake is part of the Eagle Chain. Public use facilities
include four resorts with boat rentals available at most of these.
The lake has a total of 44 cottages and/or dwellings located about
the shore. Despite this fact, muskrats are considered to be a
significant fur bearer.
Date 1963
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
Impaired Waters
Eagle Lake was evaluated every two-year cycle from 2014 to 2022. During the 2018 cycle it was determined that this is not a Two-Story Fishery Lake, but instead a Deep Lowland Drainage Lake. There was insufficient data to assess phosphorus for the 2018 cycle, but because of the classification change the 2016 assessment was reviewed. With the new classification this lake should not have been listed for total phosphorus because the criteria are actually 30 ug/L instead of 15 ug/L. The total phosphorus listing was removed, but the excess algal growth impairment remained.
The 2022 cycle evaluation of aquatic plant data indicated healthy communities.
Date 2022
Author Ashley Beranek
Impaired Waters
Eagle Lake (Eagle Chain) (1600200) was placed on the impaired waters list in 2014 for total phosphorus. The 2016 assessments showed continued impairment by phosphorus; total phosphorus sample data exceed 2016 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Recreation use and Fish and Aquatic Life use, chlorophyll data only exceed REC thresholds, not FAL. Based on the most updated information, the impairment Excess Algal Growth was added.
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
Lake Management Plan Implementation
The Town of Washington is sponsoring a project on Anvil Lake, Vilas County. The project will focus on studying water quality and developing an Anvil Lake Management Plan (LMP). Project activities include: 1) Develop water and P budget; 2) Water quality evaluation and groundwater assessment; 3) WiLMS simulation modeling; 4) Stakeholder participation; 5) Collect sediment cores for historical and future lake water quality assessment; 6) Implementation of County sewage ordinance and association shoreline restoration project; 7) Develop annual reports, a scientific investigations report and LMP.
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 |
|---|
| 1600200 | Eagle Lake | 10005991 | Eagle Lake - T40 R10E S22 | 6/1/1992 | 9/30/2017 | Map | Data |
| 1600200 | Eagle Lake | 10028816 | Eagle Lake South Shore Littoral Zone (D 08ta) | 5/22/2008 | 6/29/2008 | Map | Data |
| 1600200 | Eagle Lake | 10028815 | Eagle Lake (Mid) | 5/22/2008 | 6/29/2008 | Map | Data |
| 1600200 | Eagle Lake | 643178 | Eagle Lake - Deep Hole | 7/7/1992 | 9/17/2024 | Map | Data |
| 1600200 | Eagle Lake | 10049583 | Eagle Lake - Eagle Lake Park Beach | 5/31/2017 | 8/29/2023 | Map | Data |
| 1600200 | Eagle Lake | 643060 | Eagle Lake - Deep Hole | 7/10/1979 | 7/10/1979 | Map | Data |
| 1600200 | Eagle Lake | 10018655 | Eagle Lake -- Boat Launch at Eagle Lake County Park | 7/3/2007 | 7/7/2024 | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Eagle Lake is located in the Eagle River watershed which is 181.70 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (55.60%), wetland (28%) and a mix of open (12.90%) and other uses (3.50%). This watershed has 146.13 stream miles, 15,720.03 lake acres and 32,094.84 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Not Ranked 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.