Oneida
No
No
Yes
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Medicine Lake, T39N, R11E, Section 33
A soft water drainage lake having slightly acid, light brown water of low transparency. Transparency at time of survey was affected by an algae bloom. Sand is the predominant littoral material (70 percent) with gravel (15 percent), muck (10 percent) and some rock present. Shoreline is predominantly upland (90 percent) with a coniferous-bog wetland adjoining a limited portion of the lake basin. Muskellunge, northern pike, walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, perch, bluegill, crappie, rock bass, pumpkinseed, bullhead and sucker are present. Public access with parking as well as that of the navigable water type are available. Nine resorts and 29 dwellings are located on the shoreline. Water levels are maintained by a dam on the outlet of Long Lake having 9 foot head. It is part of the Three Lakes Chain.
Surface Acres = 411.4, S.D.F. = 1.83, Maximum Depth = 42 feet
Date
Author Aquatic Biologist
Impaired Waters
Medicine Lake (WBIC 1611700) was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; new fish tissue sample data exceeded the 2018 WisCALM Mercury listing thresholds for the Fish Consumption use. Special consumption advice for Mercury was applied to this lake and it was proposed for Mercury listing.
Date 2017
Author Ashley Beranek
Impaired Waters
Medicine Lake (1611700) was assessed during the 2016 listing cycle; total phosphorus sample data exceed 2016 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Recreation use and Fish and Aquatic Life use, however chlorophyll data do not exceed REC or FAL thresholds.
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
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 |
|---|
| 1611800 | Laurel Lake | 10004582 | Laurel Lake | 7/27/1999 | 9/30/2017 | Map | Data |
| 1611700 | Medicine Lake | 10004265 | Medicine Lake(3 Lakes Chain) | 7/27/1999 | 9/10/2018 | Map | Data |
| 1610600 | Little Fork Lake | 10004579 | Little Fork Lake | 7/27/1999 | 9/30/2017 | Map | Data |
| 1611700 | Medicine Lake | 443289 | Medicine Lake - Deep Hole | 8/28/1993 | 10/22/2024 | Map | Data |
| 1611700 | Medicine Lake | 10015039 | Medicine/Laurel - Treaty Chain | | | Map | Data |
| 1599500 | Eagle River | 10004579 | Little Fork Lake | 7/27/1999 | 9/30/2017 | Map | Data |
| 1599500 | Eagle River | 10004265 | Medicine Lake(3 Lakes Chain) | 7/27/1999 | 9/10/2018 | Map | Data |
| 1599500 | Eagle River | 10004582 | Laurel Lake | 7/27/1999 | 9/30/2017 | Map | Data |
| 1611700 | Medicine Lake | 10018888 | Medicine Lake -- Access at W Side Of Lake Nr Hwy X | 5/7/2005 | 8/2/2024 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Medicine 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.