Iron
No
No
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Echo Lake is a medium hard water drainage lake having slightly alkaline, clear water of moderate transparency. The inlet and outlet streams are navigable and part of the Turtle River drainage. Sand is the predominant littoral material (65 percent), with rubble (28 percent), boulders (5 percent), and some muck. Most of the shoreline is upland with the balance being wetland predominantly of the shrub type. The fish population includes muskellunge, northern pike, walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, perch, bluegill, black crappie, rock bass, black bullhead, white sucker, redhorse, and burbot. Waterfowl may make limited use of this lake on their spring or fall migrations and for nesting. Floating, emergent and submergent vegetation is sparse. There are 89 dwellings and one resort located on the shoreline. Public access is available from the end of a town road having an unimproved landing and very limited parking. Access of the navigable water type from either the inlet or outlet stream is also possible. There is a county parcel of land, approximately 20 acres, located on the northwest shore, having about 0.08 mile of public frontage. The aforementioned public land, however, is surrounded by private ownership. Two islands are located in the lake basin.
Surface Acres = 219.7, S.D.F. = 2.22, Maximum Depth = 25 feet
Source:1970, Surface Water Resources of Iron County,WI:WI-DNR Echo Lake , T43N, R4E, Section 25
Date 1970
Author Aquatic Biologist
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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2301800 | Echo Lake | 10019720 | Echo Lake -- Access at Kichaks Landing Rd | 6/16/2010 | 6/16/2010 | Map | Data |
2301800 | Echo Lake | 263044 | Echo Lake - Site A - North | 8/28/1992 | 7/14/2022 | Map | Data |
2301800 | Echo Lake | 263045 | Echo Lake - Site B - South | 7/27/1993 | 8/24/2024 | Map | Data |
2301800 | Echo Lake | 10002750 | Echo Lake | 9/1/1994 | 4/11/2024 | Map | Data |
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![](wsWaterEcosystem.ashx?watershed=UC14)
Watershed Characteristics
Echo Lake is located in the Flambeau Flowage watershed which is 247.18 miĀ². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (56.80%), wetland (28.20%) and a mix of open (14.10%) and other uses (0.90%). This watershed has 190.98 stream miles, 10,199.06 lake acres and 43,978.35 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Not Ranked for runoff impacts on streams, Not Ranked 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.