Horseshoe Lake, Pigeon River Watershed (SH06)
Horseshoe Lake, Pigeon River Watershed (SH06)
Horseshoe Lake (64200)
20.56 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.
Two-Story
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
Poor
 
This lake is impaired
Impairment Unknown
Total Phosphorus
 
Manitowoc
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

HORSESHOE LAKE
T17N, R22E, Section 20; Manitowoc County
Surface Acres = 22, S.D.F. = 2.08, Maximum Depth = 54 feet

Horseshoe Lake is a small, hard water drainage lake with spring sources in terminal moraine. The lake surface area is approximately 22 acres with a maximum depth of 54 feet, an average depth of 25 feet and a lake volume of 550 acre feet. The lake is located in an 847-acre direct drainage basin. The dominant land uses within the Horseshoe Lake subwatershed are agriculture and forest (Olson and Helsel 1997). The fish community in Horseshoe lake is primarily largemouth bass and panfish. Access is available via a public park (WDNR 1968).

Horseshoe Lake is classified as a mesotrophic lake with relatively low nutrient and chlorophyll a concentrations and good water clarity. The 1996 spring total phosphorus was 40 ug/L with surface summer phosphorus concentrations ranging from 11 ug/L to 16 ug/L. TSI values typically range between 35 and 50 (Figure 27).
Water Resource Objectives and Management Recommendations

The water resource objectives and management recommendations for Horseshoe Lake reduce phosphorus loading overall 62% from existing conditions (114 lbs/yr) to best managed conditions (43 lbs/yr) (Olson and Helsel 1997). Specific best management practices should target lake protection and nutrient sources from agricultural land.

Date  2001

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

Source: 1968, Surface Water Resources of Manitowoc County Horseshoe Lake, T17N, R22E, Section 20 Surface acres - 19.0, S.D.F. = 2.08, Maximum depth = 54 feet.

A small, hard water drainage lake with spring sources in terminal moraine 3 miles west of Spring Valley. The lake has clear water and a muck bottom. A navigable connection from West Lake enters the lake at the northwest corner. An intermittent stream at the south end partially drains the lake during periods of high water. Algae blooms have caused occasional problems in the past. It is managed for largemouth bass and panfish; rainbow trout have been stocked. No motors are permitted on the lake. There are 13 dwellings on the shoreline. A public park of 5.6 acres with over 1,000 feet of frontage provides access to the lake. Mallards and blue-wing teal nest here during favorable years, and a small number of migrating waterfowl visit in the fall. Hunting is permitted. There is no adjoining wetland.

Date  1968

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Horseshoe Lake, Pigeon River Watershed (SH06) Fish and Aquatic LifeHorseshoe Lake, Pigeon River Watershed (SH06) RecreationHorseshoe Lake, Pigeon River Watershed (SH06) Fish Consumption

General Condition

Horseshoe Lake (WBIC 64200) was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; new chlorophyll sample data were clearly below 2018 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Recreation use and the Fish and Aquatic Life use. This water was meeting these designated uses and was not considered impaired.

Date  2017

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

Monitor Water Quality or Sediment
The lake is fairly good condition compared to other Manitowoc County lakes. It is two-story because it is stocked with trout but probably not many trout survive year to year. At about 4 meters the hypolimnion goes anoxic. So the lake may be impaired but a TP criteria of 15 would be impossible for any lake in Manitowoc County to meet. I would prefer to see it listed if it exceeds the criteria of 20 instead of 15.

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

Watershed Characteristics

Horseshoe Lake is located in the Pigeon River watershed which is 78.87 miĀ². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (57.30%), grassland (18.60%) and a mix of forest (10.20%) and other uses (13.90%). This watershed has 110.34 stream miles, 769.54 lake acres and 3,149.60 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

Horseshoe Lake is considered a Two-Story 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.

Shallow headwater lake describes the depth and location of the lake in a watershed. These variables affect the lakes response to watershed variables.