Forest
No
Yes
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Metonga Lake, in the Upper Wolf River and Post Lake Watershed, is a 2,038.50 acre lake that falls in Forest 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
Source: 1977, Surface Water Resources of Forest County Metonga Lake, T35N, R13E, Sec. 8 Surface Acres = 2,157, Maximum depth = 79 feet, Secchi disk = 26 feet.
A medium hard water drainage lake having slightly alkaline, clear water of very high transparency. The inlet stream is drainage from Rocky Siding Creek and the outlet flows to Swamp Creek. The entire shoreline is upland of mixed hardwoods and conifer. Fish inhabiting this lake include walleye, northern pike, large and smallmouth bass, bluegill, black crappie rock bass, pumpkinseed and white sucker. Littoral materials consist of sand (45 percent), gravel (45 percent), rock (5 percent), and muck (10 percent). Shoreline developments include 9 resorts, I boat rental and 154 dwellings. Four boat landings and a county park are available for public use. Of the 7.48 miles of shoreline, 0.28 mile is public frontage. The Forest County Protective Association maintains a dam of 5 head feet at the outlet. Waterfowl use this lake on spring and fall migrations.
Date 1977
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
General Condition
Metonga Lake (394400) was assessed during the 2016 listing cycle; total phosphorus and chlorophyll sample data were clearly below 2016 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Recreation use and Fish and Aquatic Life use. This water is meeting these designated uses and is not considered impaired.
Date 2015
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
Aquatic Invasives Research
This project will continue the study and assessment of the impacts of zebra mussels on Lake Metonga. Specially, water chemistry, phytoplankton, zooplankton, zebra mussels, crayfish, walleye and yellow perch will be studied. The objective of this study is to gain information about the changes within the ecosystem and possible management options.
Aquatic Invasives Research
SOKAOGON CHIPPEWA COMMUNITY: Zebra Mussel Study - This is a multi-phase project to research the impacts of zebra mussels on Lake Metonga. This data will be used for management of Lake Metonga and larger management efforts by the tribe on other NOR lakes.
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 |
|---|
| LAKE METONGA ASSOCIATION, INC.: Lake Metonga Management Planning Project | 2007 |
| SOKAOGON CHIPPEWA COMMUNITY: Zebra Mussel DF Study | 2003 |
| TOWN OF LINCOLN: Town of Lincoln - Forest Co. Waterr Quality & Land Use Plan | 1999 |
| TOWN OF LINCOLN: Lake Metonga AIS Survey & Eurasian Water Milfoil Treatment | 2005 |
| LAKE METONGA ASSOCIATION, INC.: Lake Metonga Clean Boats Clean Waters Project 2015 | 2015 |
| LAKE METONGA ASSOCIATION: Lake Metonga Association, Inc. 2018 CBCW | 2018 |
| LAKE METONGA ASSOCIATION, INC.: Lake Metonga DO Meter Acquisition | 2006 |
| LAKE METONGA ASSOCIATION, INC.: Lake Metonga Aquatic Invasive Species Control & Prevention, Phase 1 | 2008 |
| LAKE METONGA ASSOCIATION, INC.: Lake Metonga 2024 Aquatic Plant Studies Project | 2024 |
| LAKE METONGA ASSOCIATION: Lake Metonga Association 2017 CBCW | 2017 |
| LAKE METONGA ASSOCIATION, INC: Lake Metonga Association, Inc. 2020 CBCW | 2020 |
| SOKAOGON CHIPPEWA COMMUNITY: Zebra Mussel Study - Part 1 | 2002 |
| LAKE METONGA ASSOCIATION, INC: Lake Metonga Association, Inc 2019 CBCW | 2019 |
| LAKE METONGA ASSOCIATION, INC.: Lake Metonga Aquatic Invasive Species Control & Prevention, Phase 2 | 2008 |
| SOKAOGON CHIPPEWA COMMUNITY: Zebra Mussel Study - Part 2 | 2002 |
| SOKAOGON CHIPPEWA COMMUNITY: Metonga Lake Zebra Mussel Study Project 2, Phase 2 | 2003 |
| LAKE METONGA ASSOCIATION, INC.: Lake Metonga, Comprehensive Management Plan | 2000 |
| LAKE METONGA ASSOCIATION, INC.: Lake Metonga Clean Boats Clean Waters 2013 | 2013 |
| SOKAOGON CHIPPEWA COMMUNITY: Metonga Lake Zebra Mussel Study Project 1, Phase 2 | 2003 |
| LAKE METONGA ASSOCIATION, INC.: Lake Metonga AIS Control & Prevention Project, Phase 2 | 2011 |
| LAKE METONGA ASSOCIATION, INC.: Metonga AIS Monitoring & Control Strategy Development | 2015 |
| Fish Propagation Actions | 2001 |
| LAKE METONGA ASSOCIATION, INC.: Lake Metonga Clean Boats Clean Waters Project 2014 | 2014 |
| LAKE METONGA ASSOCIATION, INC.: Lake Metonga Association 2016 CBCW | 2016 |
| LAKE METONGA ASSOCIATION, INC.: Lake Metonga Management Planning Project | 2018 |
|
Monitoring Projects
| WBIC | Official Waterbody Name | Station ID | Station Name | Earliest Fieldwork Date | Latest Fieldwork Date | View Station | View Data |
|---|
| 394400 | Metonga Lake | 213124 | Lake Metonga - Deep Hole | 8/15/1992 | 8/25/2024 | Map | Data |
| 394400 | Metonga Lake | 10019127 | Metonga Lake -- South Access at County Park | 8/29/2008 | 9/7/2024 | Map | Data |
| 394400 | Metonga Lake | 10043785 | Lake Metonga - NE (Herbicide Monitoring Site B8) | 5/28/2015 | 5/28/2015 | Map | Data |
| 394400 | Metonga Lake | 214022 | Metonga Lake - Metonga Lake | | | Map | Data |
| 394400 | Metonga Lake | 10002498 | Metonga Lake | 7/1/1994 | 8/21/2021 | Map | Data |
| 394400 | Metonga Lake | 10042259 | Metonga Lake - Northern Part Of Lake | 6/26/2014 | 6/29/2016 | Map | Data |
| 394400 | Metonga Lake | 10043782 | Lake Metonga - NE (Herbicide Monitoring Site A6) | 5/28/2015 | 5/28/2015 | Map | Data |
| 394400 | Metonga Lake | 10056192 | Lake Metonga - M2 (Application Area) | 6/20/2022 | 6/27/2022 | Map | Data |
| 394400 | Metonga Lake | 10014963 | Metonga Lake | 8/21/2021 | 8/21/2021 | Map | Data |
| 394400 | Metonga Lake | 10042260 | Metonga Lake - Southern Part Of Lake | 6/26/2014 | 6/29/2016 | Map | Data |
| 394400 | Metonga Lake | 10019030 | Metonga Lake -- North Access at City Beach | 7/2/2000 | 9/14/2024 | Map | Data |
| 394400 | Metonga Lake | 10019036 | Metonga Lake -- East Access | 6/5/2010 | 7/12/2014 | Map | Data |
| 394400 | Metonga Lake | 10043783 | Lake Metonga - NE (Herbicide Monitoring Site A11) | 5/28/2015 | 5/28/2015 | Map | Data |
| 394400 | Metonga Lake | 10043786 | Lake Metonga - NE (Herbicide Monitoring Site B21) | 5/28/2015 | 5/28/2015 | Map | Data |
| 394400 | Metonga Lake | 10043784 | Lake Metonga - NE (Herbicide Monitoring Site B6) | 5/28/2015 | 5/28/2015 | Map | Data |
| 394400 | Metonga Lake | 10056191 | Lake Metonga - M1 (Application Area) | 6/20/2022 | 6/27/2022 | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Metonga Lake is located in the Upper Wolf River and Post Lake watershed which is 203.31 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (52.90%), wetland (35.60%) and a mix of open (6.40%) and other uses (5.20%). This watershed has 202.70 stream miles, 7,524.17 lake acres and 32,034.92 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.