Vilas
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Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Ike Walton Lake, in the Bear River Watershed, is a 1,416.60 acre lake that falls in Vilas County. This lake is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently considered impaired.
Date 2011
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Source: 1963, Surface Water Resources of Vilas County Ike Walton Lake T-41-N, R-5-E, Sections 12, 13, and 24,
Ike Walton Lake is a seepage lake of low fertility. It has slightly acid, clear water of moderate transparency. The bottom materials consist predominantly of sand, with muck, gravel and rock present. The principal fish species present are the muskellunge, walleye, large and smallmouth bass and pan fish. There is access by town road with parking. Other public use facilities consist of one resort with boat rental facilities. There is also a picnic area which is located on indian lands. There are 11 cottages located on or about the shore line. Muskrats are considered a significant fur bearer and beaver are known to be present. The lake, adjoining the Powell Marsh, is used by mallard, bluewing teal and wood ducks, as well as by hooded mergansers, for nesting purposes. The lake is very heavily used by waterfowl on the spring and fall migration. It is also used quite heavily by Canada geese on spring and fall migration. As hunting is permitted on this lake and it is adjacent to the Powell Marsh waterfowl refuge, the lake is one of the most popular waterfowl hunting lakes in the county.
Area = 1,439 Surface Acres, Maximum Depth = 63 feet
Date 1963
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 |
|---|
| 2321800 | Ike Walton Lake | 643569 | Ike Walton Lake - Deep Hole | 5/28/2002 | 9/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 2321800 | Ike Walton Lake | 10006028 | Ike Walton Lake | 8/29/2000 | 9/21/2017 | Map | Data |
| 2321800 | Ike Walton Lake | 644053 | Ike Walton Lake - Ike Walton Lake | 8/21/1979 | 8/21/1979 | Map | Data |
| 2321800 | Ike Walton Lake | 10019867 | Ike Walton Lake -- Ramp - W Side Of Lake | 8/14/2007 | 6/18/2021 | Map | Data |
| 2321800 | Ike Walton Lake | 10030393 | Ike Walton Lake | 7/30/2009 | 7/30/2009 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Ike Walton Lake is located in the Bear River watershed which is 145.45 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (48.20%), wetland (32.30%) and a mix of open (17.90%) and other uses (1.70%). This watershed has 109.53 stream miles, 16,823.52 lake acres and 30,671.84 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.