Barron
No
No
Yes
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Upper Vermillion Lake, in the Yellow River Watershed, is a 91.47 acre lake that falls in Barron County. This lake is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently not considered impaired.
Date 2020
Author Ashley Beranek
Historical Description
Source: 1964, Surface Water Resources of Barron County Vermillion Lake T35N, R13W,- Section 15
A hard water drainage lake on the headwaters of the Vermillion River. The fish population consists of northern pike, walleyes, largemouth bass, perch, bluegills, black crappies, pumpkinseeds, bullheads and white suckers. The lake is surrounded by open farmland, upland hardwood, white pine and a tamarack-tag alder swamp in the middle narrows section. Seventy-two acres of wetland adjoining the lake provide habitat for muskrats, nesting puddle ducks, mergansers, coot and loon. Canada geese also use the lake at times during migratory seasons. It is accessible on the east and west sides by three public accesses. Private develop-ment consists of one resort and boat rental place and four cottages and homes. It has no public frontage other than the access sites.
Surface Acres = 282.0, S.D.F. = 2.64, Maximum Depth 56 feet
Date 1964
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
Impaired Waters
Upper Vermillion Lake was assessed during the 2020 and 2022 cycles; total phosphorus and chlorophyll sample data exceeded thresholds. This water was put on the Impaired Waters List in 2020.
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
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 |
|---|
| 2098800 | Upper Vermillion Lake | 10020144 | Upper Vermillion Lake -- Access off 10th St. | 8/5/2008 | 7/4/2024 | Map | Data |
| 2098800 | Upper Vermillion Lake | 033195 | Upper Vermillion Lake - Center | 6/13/2002 | 8/31/2024 | Map | Data |
| 2098800 | Upper Vermillion Lake | 10000774 | Upper Vermillion Lake | 9/5/2000 | 10/3/2016 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Upper Vermillion Lake is located in the Yellow River watershed which is 239.35 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (38%), forest (28.40%) and a mix of grassland (20.50%) and other uses (13.00%). This watershed has 415.31 stream miles, 2,929.80 lake acres and 11,565.29 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked High for runoff impacts on streams, Not Available 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.