Washburn
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Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Spider Lake No.5, in the Brill and Red Cedar Rivers Watershed, is a 180.61 acre lake that falls in Washburn County. This lake is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently not considered impaired.
Date 2011
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
The largest lake in the Spider Lake Chain near Birchwood, it is also one of the most irregularly-shaped lakes in this part of the state. It is landlocked but with a channel to No. 4 lake to the north. This soft
water, seepage lake has a fishery of walleyes, northern pike, largemouth bass, perch, bluegills, black crappies, rock bass, pumpkinseeds, bullheads and white suckers. With fluctuating water levels in dry years many of the lake's islands became joined to the shore and bays become isolated from the main body of the lake. More than a dozen basins are evident in the lake. Since the lake lies in the hilly, glacial end moraine, this condition can be expected. Mixed hardwood and pine dominate the lakeshore. Several small, sedge meadow and bog wetlands are found around the lake. Thirteen of the islands are stateowned and three are privately owned.
A variety of aquatic vegetation is found in the lake in moderate abundance. The littoral bottom is dominated by sand and gravel with boulders scattered throughout and muck bottoms in the sheltered bays. Twelve acres of wetlands provide habitat for a few furbearers and nesting mallards, black ducks, wood ducks and loon. A public access is located on the southwest shore. Private lakeshore development includes a resort and boat rental at the south end and fourteen cottages. Of the lake's 9.3 miles of frontage, 6.51 miles are public frontage as Washburn County Forest land, state islands, the Town of Birchwood access site and 5 undeveloped platted accesses.Source: 1978, Surface Water Resources of Washburn County Spider Lake No. 5, T37N, R10W, Section 2, 3, 10, 11, Surface Acres-176.6, Maximum Depth-49 feet, M.P.A.-7 ppm, Secchi Disk-8 feet
Date 1978
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
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 |
|---|
| 1882500 | Spider Lake | 10018270 | Spider Lake -- No 5 Access | 8/10/2004 | 8/21/2021 | Map | Data |
| 1882500 | Spider Lake | 663147 | Spider Lake # 5 - North Basin Deep Hole | 6/25/2005 | 9/13/2024 | Map | Data |
| 1882500 | Spider Lake | 663149 | Spider Lake # 5 - South Basin Deep Hole | 6/25/2005 | 9/13/2024 | Map | Data |
| 1882500 | Spider Lake | 10006710 | Spider Lake #5 - T37 R10W S10 | 9/16/2004 | 11/28/2023 | Map | Data |
| 1882500 | Spider Lake | 663148 | Spider Lake # 5 - Center Basin Deep Hole | 6/25/2005 | 9/13/2024 | Map | Data |
| 1882500 | Spider Lake | 664020 | Lost Lake - Lost Lake | 7/24/1979 | 7/24/1979 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Spider Lake is located in the Brill and Red Cedar Rivers watershed which is 297.68 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (49.40%), agricultural (20.30%) and a mix of grassland (10.70%) and other uses (19.60%). This watershed has 264.90 stream miles, 6,282.34 lake acres and 15,832.05 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Medium for runoff impacts on streams, Medium 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.