Big Sand Lake, Lower Yellow (Burnett Co.) River Watershed (SC14)
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Big Sand Lake, Lower Yellow (Burnett Co.) River Watershed (SC14)
Big Sand Lake (2676800)
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1433.91 Acres
Natural Community
Natural communities (stream and lake natural communities) represent model results that use predicted flow and temperature based on landscape features and related assumptions. Ranges of flow and temperature associated with specific aquatic life communities (fish, macroinvertebrates) help biologists identify appropriate resource management goals. Wisconsin Natural Communities.
Deep Seepage
Year Last Monitored
This is the most recent date of monitoring data stored in SWIMS. Additional surveys for fish and habitat may be available subsequent to this date.
2024
Good
 
Burnett
Trout Water 
Trout Waters are represented by Class I, Class II or Class III waters. These classes have specific ecological characteristics and management actions associated with them. For more information regarding Trout Classifications, see the Fisheries Trout Class Webpages.
No
Outstanding or Exceptional 
Wisconsin has designated many of the state's highest quality waters as Outstanding Resource Waters (ORWs) or Exceptional Resource Waters (ERWs). Waters designated as ORW or ERW are surface waters which provide outstanding recreational opportunities, support valuable fisheries and wildlife habitat, have good water quality, and are not significantly impacted by human activities. ORW and ERW status identifies waters that the State of Wisconsin has determined warrant additional protection from the effects of pollution. These designations are intended to meet federal Clean Water Act obligations requiring Wisconsin to adopt an 'antidegradation' policy that is designed to prevent any lowering of water quality - especially in those waters having significant ecological or cultural value.
Yes
Impaired Water 
A water is polluted or 'impaired' if it does not support full use by humans, wildlife, fish and other aquatic life and it is shown that one or more of the pollutant criteria are not met.
No

Fish and Aquatic Life

Current Use
The use the water currently supports. This is not a designation or classification; it is based on the current condition of the water. Information in this column is not designed for, and should not be used for, regulatory purposes.
Deep Seepage
Deep seepage lake describes the depth and hydrologic charactertistics of the lake. These variables affect the lakes response to watershed variables.
Attainable Use
The use that the investigator believes the water could achieve through managing "controllable" sources. Beaver dams, hydroelectric dams, low gradient streams, and naturally occurring low flows are generally not considered controllable. The attainable use may be the same as the current use or it may be higher.
Default FAL
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.
Designated Use
This is the water classification legally recognized by NR102 and NR104, Wis. Adm. Code. The classification determines water quality criteria and effluent limits. Waters obtain designated uses through classification procedures.
Default FAL
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.

Overview

Big Sand Lake, in the Lower Yellow (Burnett Co.) River Watershed, is a 1,433.88 acre lake that falls in Burnett County. This lake is an outstanding/exceptional resource water under NR102 under the Fisheries Program. This lake is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently not considered impaired.

Date  2011

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

Big Sand Lake is a large (1400 acres) seepage lake with excellent fishery and good water
quality. This lake has been nominated for the "Outstanding Resource Water" designation. A
lake organization exists for Big Sand Lake and they should be encouraged to enroll in the selfhelp
program and apply for a Lakes Planning Grant to assess the current status of the lake and
watershed. Any measures necessary to preserve this waterbody should be encouraged.

Date  1992

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Big Sand Lake, Lower Yellow (Burnett Co.) River Watershed (SC14) Fish and Aquatic LifeBig Sand Lake, Lower Yellow (Burnett Co.) River Watershed (SC14) RecreationBig Sand Lake, Lower Yellow (Burnett Co.) River Watershed (SC14) Fish Consumption

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

Big Sand Lake Restoration Survey and Expanded Monitoring Small Planning Grant Final Report
2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments
Big Sand Lake, Burnett County - Aquatic Plant Sampling Map (88 mpts)
Big Sand Lake, Burnett County - Garmin Text File
2018 List of Healthy (Category 2) Waters
Final Assessment Data from TSI Package and Assessment Units 2018
AIS Early Detection 2012 Data Form Burnett Big Sand Lake 2676800
Burnett County Surface Water Resources 1966
Lake Bathymetry Map for Big Sand Lake

Recommendations

Conduct Survey of Residents
develop and mail a sociological survey to better understand property owners\2019 positions on lake/shoreline restoration and to recruit participants for implementation projects
Habitat Restoration - Shoreland
Shoreland Restoration
Project Deliverable
sociological survey and corresponding results and a summary of equipment purchased and how it was used.
Aquatic Plant Management Project
The project also includes some funding for purchasing lab equipment for phytoplankton analysis to support expanding foodweb monitoring

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
BIG SAND LAKE PRESERVATION ASSOC: Big Sand Lk Restoration Survey & Expanded Monitoring2014
TOWN OF LA FOLLETTE: Town of LaFollette Land Use Plan2001
Fish Propagation Actions2001

Monitoring Projects

WBICOfficial Waterbody NameStation IDStation NameEarliest Fieldwork DateLatest Fieldwork DateView StationView Data
2676800Big Sand Lake10039853Big Sand Lake East Site near Hertel WI3/2/20018/14/2001MapData
2676800Big Sand Lake10001650Big Sand Lake9/5/20006/2/2022MapData
2676800Big Sand Lake074034Big Sand Lake - Big Sand LakeMapData
2676800Big Sand Lake10018418Big Sand Lake -- Access7/10/20038/30/2024MapData
2676800Big Sand Lake073061Big Sand Lake - Near Deep Hole8/13/19799/26/2024MapData

Watershed Characteristics

Big Sand Lake is located in the Lower Yellow (Burnett Co.) River watershed which is 208.95 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (64.90%), wetland (19.60%) and a mix of open (8.80%) and other uses (6.80%). This watershed has 99.73 stream miles, 13,740.17 lake acres and 23,442.16 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.This water is ranked High Lake for individual Lakes based on runoff problems and the likelihood of success from project implementation.

Natural Community

Big Sand Lake is considered a Deep Seepage under the state's Natural Community Determinations.

Natural communities (stream and lake natural communities) represent model results and DNR staff valiation processes that confirm or update predicted conditions based on flow and temperature modeling from historic and current landscape features and related variables. Predicated flow and temperatures for waters are associated predicated fish assemblages (communities). Biologists evaluate the model results against current survey data to determine if the modeled results are corect and whether biological indicators show water quaity degradation. This analysis is a core component of the state's resource management framework. Wisconsin's Riverine Natural Communities.

Deep seepage lake describes the depth and hydrologic charactertistics of the lake. These variables affect the lakes response to watershed variables.

Maps of Watershed
BIG SAND LAKE NESTS