Klaus Lake, Little River Watershed (GB04)
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Klaus Lake, Little River Watershed (GB04)
Klaus Lake (445800)
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21.81 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.
2020
Poor
 
This lake is impaired
Excess Algal Growth, Eutrophication
Total Phosphorus
 
Oconto
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.
No
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.
Yes

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.
Restricted Aquatic Life
Fish and Aquatic Life communities are not fully supported in this ecosystem.
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

Klaus Lake, in the Little River Watershed, is a 21.81 acre lake that falls in Oconto County. This lake is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently considered impaired.

Date  2022

Author  Ashley Beranek

Historical Description

A hard water seepage lake having slightly alkaline, medium brown water of moderate transparency. The shoreline is 85 percent wetland, of coniferous swamp, and 15 percent upland, consisting of cleared land and mixed hardwoods and conifers. The littoral zone is 80 percent muck, 15 percent sand and 5 percent marl. Waterfowl make limited use of this lake. Information is lacking on the fish population, however, largemouth bass and panfish are probably present. There is no public access. Two dwellings are located on the shoreline. Source: 1977, Surface Water Resources of Oconto County Klaus Lake, T28N, R18E, Section 4 Surface Acres 22.4, Maximum Depth = 50 feet, Secchi Disk = 6 feet

Date  1977

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Klaus Lake, Little River Watershed (GB04) Fish and Aquatic LifeKlaus Lake, Little River Watershed (GB04) RecreationKlaus Lake, Little River Watershed (GB04) Fish Consumption

Impaired Waters

Klaus Lake was evaluated in the 2022 cycle: phosphorus and chlorophyll levels were above listing thresholds as outlined in 2022 WisCALM. This lake was added to the 2022 Impaired Waters List.

Date  2022

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

Klaus Lake, Oconto County - Aquatic Plant Sampling Map (20 mpts)
Klaus Lake, Oconto County - Garmin Text File
2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments
2018 List of Healthy (Category 2) Waters
Final Assessment Data from TSI Package and Assessment Units 2018

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
Fish Propagation Actions2001

Monitoring Projects

WBICOfficial Waterbody NameStation IDStation NameEarliest Fieldwork DateLatest Fieldwork DateView StationView Data
445800Klaus Lake433341Klaus Lake - Deep Hole5/6/19999/14/2020MapData
445800Klaus Lake10001335Klaus Lake7/27/19998/30/2017MapData
445700Unnamed10044698Klaus Lake West inletMapData
445800Klaus Lake433357Klaus Lake - Roadside Swale (To Trib To Klaus Lake)2/28/20002/28/2000MapData
445800Klaus Lake10044698Klaus Lake West inletMapData
445800Klaus Lake433374Klaus Lake - Klaus Lake Culvert Into East Side Of LakeMapData

Watershed Characteristics

Klaus Lake is located in the Little River watershed which is 210.34 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (40.60%), wetland (31.40%) and a mix of grassland (13.50%) and other uses (14.60%). This watershed has 318.76 stream miles, 2,483.26 lake acres and 36,144.77 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked High for runoff impacts on streams, Not Ranked 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.

Natural Community

Klaus 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.

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