Vilas
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Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Fence Lake, in the Bear River Watershed, is a 3,482.68 acre lake that falls in Vilas County. This lake is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently not considered impaired.
Date 2011
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Source: 1963, Surface Water Resources of Vilas County Fence Lake T-40-N, R-5-E, Sections 14, 15, 10, 11, 22, and 23
Fence Lake is a moderately-fertile drainage lake. It has clear, alkaline water of very high transparency. Bottom materials consist principally of sand with some gravel and rock also present. An interesting limnological feature of this lake is that 75% of the lake is greater than 20 feet in depth. The inlet and outlet streams are navigable. Muskellunge, walleye, both large and smallmouth bass and pan fish are the principal fish species present. The cisco also supports a seasonal fishery in this water. Public use facilities on this lake are excellent. There are 10 resorts one youth camp, and 132 cottages and/or dwellings scattered on or about the shore line. In addition to access through a county park area, there is a town landing and access by a state road with parking, as well as access from a state highway without nearby parking. In addition, of course, access is also possible by navigable water. While the lake is of little significance to fur bearers, the lake is used by waterfowl on the spring and fall migration. This fine, large lake with its excellent water quality and firm shore line, varied fish population, great depth and size, supports a variety of activities including pleasure boating, fishing, water-skiing, sailboating, skin diving and aesthetics.
Area = 3,340 Surface Acres, Maximum Depth = 86 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
| Project Name (Click for Details) | Year Started |
|---|
| TOWN OF LAC DU FLAMBEAU: AIS Watercraft Inspection, Education & Lake Monitoring Project | 2009 |
| FENCE LAKE ASSOCIATION, INC.: Fence Lake Association, Inc. 2019 CBCW | 2019 |
| FRIENDS OF FENCE LAKE INC: SWE - Friends of Fence Lake Association Informational Brochure | 2024 |
| TOWN OF LAC DU FLAMBEAU: AIS Watercraft Inspection, Education, & Lake Monitoring Project | 2007 |
| FENCE LAKE ASSOCIATION, INC.: Fence Lake 2015 Clean Boats Clean Waters Project | 2015 |
| FENCE LAKE ASSOCIATION, INC.: Fence Lake Association, Inc. 2018 CBCW | 2018 |
| TOWN OF LAC DU FLAMBEAU: AIS Watercraft Inspection, Education & Lake Monitoring | 2008 |
| FENCE LAKE ASSOCIATION, INC.: Fence Lake Association Inc. 2016 Clean Boats Clean Waters | 2016 |
| TOWN OF LAC DU FLAMBEAU: AIS Boat Inspection, Education, & Lake Monitoring | 2006 |
| TOWN OF LAC DU FLAMBEAU: AIS Watercraft Inspection, Education & Lake Monitoring Project | 2010 |
| VILAS COUNTY: PREV - Vilas County 2024 Prohibited & Priority Species Prevention & Monitoring Project | 2024 |
| Fish Propagation Actions | 2001 |
| TOWN OF LAC DU FLAMBEAU: Lake Steward Program | 2011 |
| FENCE LAKE ASSOCIATION, INC.: Fence Lake Association, Inc. 2017 CBCW | 2017 |
| FENCE LAKE ASSOCIATION, INC.: Fence Lake Association, Inc. 2020 CBCW | 2020 |
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Monitoring Projects
| WBIC | Official Waterbody Name | Station ID | Station Name | Earliest Fieldwork Date | Latest Fieldwork Date | View Station | View Data |
|---|
| 2323000 | Fence Lake | 643427 | Fence Lake - Lighthouse-South Bay Max Dept | 7/5/1993 | 10/14/2002 | Map | Data |
| 2323000 | Fence Lake | 10052537 | Fence Lake - Potts Bay, Vilas County | 7/13/2019 | 10/2/2023 | Map | Data |
| 2323000 | Fence Lake | 643173 | Fence Lake - Deep Hole-North | 7/3/1993 | 7/19/2017 | Map | Data |
| 2323000 | Fence Lake | 10006026 | Fence Lake | 8/29/2000 | 9/21/2017 | Map | Data |
| 2323000 | Fence Lake | 10018775 | Fence Lake -- Access at Thorofare Rd | 6/4/2000 | 9/7/2024 | Map | Data |
| 2322900 | Unnamed | 10038041 | Fence Lake Channel (Vilas Co) | 8/19/2011 | 8/19/2011 | Map | Data |
| 2323000 | Fence Lake | 10042277 | Fence Lake - Paradise Bay | 6/17/2014 | 6/17/2014 | Map | Data |
| 2323000 | Fence Lake | 644056 | Fence Lake - Fence Lake | 8/21/1979 | 8/21/1979 | Map | Data |
| 2323000 | Fence Lake | 10042276 | Fence Lake - North of Strawberry Point | 6/17/2014 | 6/17/2014 | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Fence 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.