Forest
No
No
Yes
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Range Line Lake, in the Lower North Branch Oconto River Watershed, is a 93.15 acre lake that falls in Forest County. This lake is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently considered impaired.
Date 2011
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Source: 1977, Surface Water Resources of Forest County Range Line Lake, T34N, R14E, Sec. 13
A hard water drainage lake having alkaline, clear water of low transparency. The inlet is navigable with small craft and is drainage from Range Line Creek while the outlet is also navigable with small craft and flows to the North Branch of the Oconto River. Littoral material is composed of muck (30 percent), gravel (20 percent), rubble (20 percent), boulders (15 percent) and sand (15 percent). Fish present include largemouth bass, northern pike, walleye, perch, bluegill, black crappie, pumpkinseed, brown bullhead, carp and white sucker. Aquatic vegetation is sparse. The shoreline is upland hardwoods (60 percent) with the remainder wetland consisting of meadow, shrub and conifer. Shoreline developments include a public boat landing, one dwelling and an "abandoned" resort. Of the 1.28 miles of shoreline, 0.35 mile is Nicolet National Forest land.
Surface Acres = 82, Maximum depth = 11 feet, Secchi disk = 3 feet
Date 1977
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
Impaired Waters
Range Line Lake (WBIC 478200) was placed on the impaired waters list for excess algal growth in 2012. The 2018 assessments showed continued excess algal growth; new chlorophyll sample data exceeded the 2018 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Recreation use. Total phosphorus data were clearly below the Recreation use and 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
Range Line Lake (478200) was placed on the impaired waters list for total phosphorus and excess algal growth in 2012. 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, total phosphorus was proposed for deletion and excess algal growth remains on the list.
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 |
|---|
| 478200 | Range Line Lake | 213060 | Range Line Lake - Deep Hole | 5/9/1989 | 7/17/2015 | Map | Data |
| 478200 | Range Line Lake | 213059 | Rangeline Creek - Inlet To Rangeline | 5/9/1989 | 10/26/1989 | Map | Data |
| 478200 | Range Line Lake | 214016 | Rangeline Lake - Rangeline Lake | | | Map | Data |
| 478200 | Range Line Lake | 10020388 | Range Line Lake -- Ramp | 8/7/2013 | 8/7/2013 | Map | Data |
| 478200 | Range Line Lake | 10002590 | Range Line Lake | 9/24/1998 | 9/30/2017 | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Range Line Lake is located in the Lower North Branch Oconto River watershed which is 389.28 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (68.90%), wetland (22.60%) and a mix of agricultural (2.90%) and other uses (5.70%). This watershed has 410.78 stream miles, 5,377.75 lake acres and 51,397.21 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Low 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.