Vilas
No
No
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Little Star Lake T42n R05e S15, in the Manitowish River Watershed, is a 259.99 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 Star (Little) Lake T-42-N, R-5-E, Sections 15, 16, 21 and 22,
Little Star Lake is a moderately fertile drainage lake, having clear slightly alkaline water of high transparency. Bottom materials consist primarily of sand, with rock, gravel and some muck. The inlet is small whereas the outlet is considered to be a navigable stream. This lake has a fluctuating water level due to a water control structure. Muskellunge, northern pike, walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass and pan fish are the principal fish species present. Public access is possible by using the navigable outlet, by use of a town road without parking facilities or the difficult type access over state forest land. Public use facilities consist of 10 resorts and one boat rental facility. There are 36 cottages located on the shore line.
Area = 244 Surface Acres, Maximum Depth = 63 feet
Date 1963
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
General Condition
Little Star Lake (WBIC 2334300) was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; new total phosphorus and chlorophyll-a sample data were clearly below the 2018 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Recreation use and the Fish and Aquatic Life use. This water was meeting these designated uses and was not considered impaired.
Date 2017
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
Recommendations
Master Planning
This project will complete a Smart Growth compliant plan for the Township of Manitowish Waters. Specifically, this grant will cover portions of the agricultural/natural resources/cultural, internal governmental, land use, and implementation strategy elements.
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 |
|---|
| 2334300 | Little Star Lake | 643078 | Little Star Lake - Deep Hole | 8/21/1979 | 8/22/2018 | Map | Data |
| 2334300 | Little Star Lake | 10019861 | Little Star Lake -- Access | 6/15/2021 | 6/15/2021 | Map | Data |
| 2334300 | Little Star Lake | 10006424 | Little Star Lake | 5/10/1999 | 9/5/2023 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Little Star Lake is located in the Manitowish River watershed which is 268.60 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (66.90%), wetland (19.10%) and a mix of open (13.30%) and other uses (0.70%). This watershed has 212.08 stream miles, 22,943.16 lake acres and 33,727.48 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Low for runoff impacts on streams, Low 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.