Oneida
No
No
Yes
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Spirit Lake, T38N, R11E, Section 3 Surface Acres = 342.4, S.D.F. = 1.34, Maximum Depth = 7 feet.
A soft water drainage lake having slightly alkaline clear water of low transparency. Transparency at time of survey was affected by algae turbidity of the water. Sand is the predominant littoral material (70 percent) with muck (20 percent) and some gravel. Shoreline is predominantly upland (90 percent) with a coniferous-bog wetland adjoining a limited portion of the lake basin. Submergent vegetation is moderate in density. Muskellunge, northern pike, walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, perch, bluegill, crappie, rock bass, pumpkinseed, bullhead and sucker are fish species inhabiting this lake. Public access without parking is available. Four resorts and 16 dwellings are located on the shoreline. Mallard use this lake as a nesting site. Puddle ducks utilize this lake on their fall migration. Water levels may be affected to some extent by the water control structure of nine feet head located on the outlet of Long Lake. Part of the Three Lakes Chain. Small culverts under the road at the outlet restricts navigability into the main part of the Chain without a portage over the road.
Date
Author Aquatic Biologist
Impaired Waters
Spirit Lake 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. Based on the most updated information, this water was proposed for the impaired waters list.
Date 2017
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
Lake Management Plan Development
Social Survey of Residents or Users
Information and Education
Informational Meetings
Shoreland Monitoring, Assessment, Inventory
Shoreland Monitoring, Assessment or Inventory
Develop/Distribute Newsletter
Monitor Water Quality or Sediment
Watershed Mapping or Assessment
Issue News/Media Release
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 |
|---|
| 1612000 | Spirit Lake | 443263 | Spirit Lake - Deep Hole | 7/9/1979 | 11/2/2023 | Map | Data |
| 1612000 | Spirit Lake | 10004275 | Spirit Lake | 7/27/1999 | 9/30/2017 | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Spirit 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.