Barron
No
No
Yes
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Granite Lake is a 154-acre drainage lake about three miles north of Cumberland on the headwaters of the Yellow River. The property owners around Granite Lake met in 1994 in preparation to forming a lake association. Two people volunteered to participate in the self-help lake monitoring program and began collecting water quality data during 1994. We have limited historic water quality data for this lake and the collection of current water quality information will be useful for future management.
Date 1996
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Source: 1964, Surface Water Resources of Barron County Granite Lake T36N, R13W, Sections 20, 29
A soft water drainage lake on the headwaters of the Yellow River. Fish population consists mainly of northern pike,largemouth bass, bluegills and bullheads. Other species present include walleyes, perch, black crappies, rock bass. pumpkinseeds and white suckers. Upland hardwoods surround the lake except for seven acres of marshy wetlands along the lakeshore edge near the south end. Muskrats, puddle ducks and mergansers use the lake wetland area. There is one resort and 15 cottages on the lake. It is accessible from the east side by a town road access with a limited parking area. The remainder of the public frontage consists of two county-owned lake lots on the southeast shore.
Surface Acres = 151.1, S.D.F. = 2.13, Maximum Depth = 32 feet
Date 1964
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
Impaired Waters
Granite Lake (WBIC 2100800) was placed on the impaired waters list for excess algal growth in 2014. The 2018 assessments showed continued excess algal growth; new chlorophyll-a sample data exceeded the 2018 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Recreation use. Based on the most updated information, no change in the existing impaired waters listing was needed.
Date 2017
Author Ashley Beranek
Impaired Waters
Granite Lake (2100800) was placed on the impaired waters list for excess algal growth in 2014. The 2016 assessments showed continued excess algal growth; chlorophyll sample data exceed 2016 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Recreation use, however, total phosphorus did not exceed REC thresholds. Total phosphorus and chlorophyll data were clearly below Fish and Aquatic Life listing thresholds. Based on the most updated information, no change in existing impaired waters listing is needed.
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 |
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2100800 | Granite Lake | 033216 | Little Granite Lake - Deep Spot | 4/18/1990 | 8/14/1990 | Map | Data |
2100800 | Granite Lake | 10022808 | Granite Lake South Basin | 5/9/2008 | 6/20/2023 | Map | Data |
2100800 | Granite Lake | 10000661 | Granite Lake | 3/23/2000 | 10/3/2016 | Map | Data |
2100800 | Granite Lake | 033177 | Granite Lake at Deep Hole | 7/10/1994 | 7/24/2024 | Map | Data |
2100800 | Granite Lake | 034003 | Granite Lake - Granite Lake | 8/29/1979 | 8/29/1979 | Map | Data |
2100800 | Granite Lake | 10018538 | Granite Lake -- Access | 8/30/2007 | 10/18/2019 | Map | Data |
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![](wsWaterEcosystem.ashx?watershed=LC09)
Watershed Characteristics
Granite Lake is located in the Yellow River watershed which is 239.35 miĀ². 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.