Rusk
No
No
Yes
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Amacoy Lake, in the Soft Maple and Hay Creeks Watershed, is a 282.52 acre lake that falls in Rusk County. This lake is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently considered impaired.
Date 2015
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Source: 1971, Surface Water Resources of Rusk County Amacoy Lake, T34N, R8W, Section 25
A soft water, drainage lake with an outlet flow of about 2.5 cubic feet per second. There is a diversion dam at the outlet which prevents water from the Chippewa River from entering the lake during high water conditions. The fish population is composed of muskellunge, northern pike, walleyes, largemouth and smallmouth bass and an abundant panfish population of bluegills, black crappies, rock bass, and pumpkinseed. Some channel catfish are also found in the lake, along with a rough fish vegetation is abundant, and the lake is subject to algae blooms. The entire shoreline is sand, and the shore vegetation is mainly upland hardwood and conifer. Migratory ducks use the lake, and mallard and wood ducks are known to nest here. There is little furbearer use. There are five resorts, four boat rentals, and 36 cottages on the lake. There is a county park on the west side of the lake which provides picnicking and a public access.
Surface Acres = 278.0, Maximum Depth = 18 feet M.P.A. = 32 ppm, Secchi disk = 3 feet
Date 1971
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
Impaired Waters
Amacoy Lake (WBIC 2359700) 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. Total phosphorus sample data did not the exceed Recreation use or Fish and Aquatic Life use listing thresholds. Based on the most updated information, no change in the existing impaired waters listing was needed.
Date 2017
Author Ashley Beranek
Impaired Waters
Amacoy Lake (2359700) 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 data do 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 |
|---|
| 2359700 | Amacoy Lake | 553185 | Amacoy Lake - Amacoy Lake | 8/14/2007 | 8/14/2007 | Map | Data |
| 2359700 | Amacoy Lake | 10005388 | Amacoy Lake | 8/29/2000 | 8/19/2017 | Map | Data |
| 2359700 | Amacoy Lake | 553079 | Amacoy Lake at South End | 5/13/1992 | 8/18/1992 | Map | Data |
| 2359700 | Amacoy Lake | 553081 | Amacoy Lake Trib - Sec 26 | 5/13/1992 | 7/14/1992 | Map | Data |
| 2359700 | Amacoy Lake | 553068 | Amacoy Lake - Deep Hole | 7/25/1986 | 8/25/2024 | Map | Data |
| 2359600 | Unnamed | 553082 | Amacoy Lake - Outlet | 5/13/1992 | 8/18/1992 | Map | Data |
| 2359700 | Amacoy Lake | 10018044 | Amacoy Lake -- Access | 5/29/2008 | 7/19/2023 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Amacoy Lake is located in the Soft Maple and Hay Creeks watershed which is 176.75 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (56.70%), wetland (19.20%) and a mix of agricultural (11.40%) and other uses (12.70%). This watershed has 266.14 stream miles, 1,050.89 lake acres and 14,185.57 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked High for runoff impacts on streams, Low 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.