Kenosha, Walworth
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Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
This warm water seepage lake has an intermittent outlet. Water levels are controlled by a fixed sill dam which maintains a head of 1.0 ft. There is one inlet on the northeast end of the lake which drains a large wetland containing one of the last stands of tamarack in Kenosha County. Virtually all of the Powers Lake shoreline is developed for summer homes (168). There are 7 resorts and 5 boat rentals. However, most of its watershed is agriculture. Marsh furbearers common to the lake and environs includes muskrats, mink, and raccoons. Waterfowl are commonly observed on the lake during their spring and fall migratory flights. Upland game common to the watershed includes cottontail rabbits, squirrels, pheasants, and deer. Powers Lake ranks as one of the best warm largemouth bass, northern pike, and panfish. Walleyes are still a part of the gamefish fishery; however, after several alternate year stockings, surveys indicate virtually no natural reproduction. Thus, maintenance of the population depends on the fingerling stocking program. Stocking was curtailed in recent years because of inadequate public access by DNR standards. Powers Lake is noted for its larger-than-average sizes of bluegills, crappies, perch, and bullheads. Large areas of sand, gravel and rubble bottom and a variety of underwater shoals, bars, and dropoffs provide exceptional habitat for reproduction as well as feeding and resting areas for common warm water and cool water fish. Public access is available from 5 boat rentals of which 3 have launching facilities. There are several public parks and public road ends which provide water access but lack adequate launching facilities with associated parking.
Source: 1982, Surface Water Resources of Kenosha County Powers Lake, TlN, R18-19E, Section 18 Surface Acres = 459, Maximum Depth = 33ft, Secchi disc = 7 ft.
Date 1982
Author Aquatic Biologist
General Condition
Powers Lake (744200) 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 was also assessed for chlorides and sample data were clearly below 2016 WisCALM chronic and acute listing criteria for the 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
Habitat Restoration - Shoreland
Walworth County will continue the Walworth County Lakes Specialist position for one year. The Lakes Specialist will provide educational information to lake residents regarding shoreline stabilization and shoreline restoration. The Lakes Specialist will also design shoreline restoration projects for interested landowners, provide technical assistance to contractors and hold workshops on shoreland restoration.
Protect Riparian or Shorelands
Walworth County will implement the Shoreland Protection Initiative project that includes: 1. A baseline lakeshore inventory; 2. ten lakshore demonstration sites; 3. the preparation of lake lawn and yard nutrient management plans; 4. fact sheets on lakeshore stabilization, shoreland buffers, shoreland regulations and lawn care; 5. an annual lakeshore inventory and distribution of shoreland regulation materials; 6. formation of a Walworth Co. Lakes Association and meetings with and newsletter pertaining to Walworth Co. lakes; 7. Workshops, information packets and news articles pertaining to the Fox river Basin Partnership Team Lakes Initiative; and 8. the formation of the Walworth County Land Conservancy.
Land Acquisition
This wetland acquisition project includes the following: 1)Acquire through fee simple purchase wetlands reparian to the unnamed stream discharging into Powers Lake; 2)Promote the essential sturcture and function of these wetland areas to ensure positive water quality benefit to the downstream Powers Lake; 3)Facilitate the maintenance of wetland and wildlife habitat within the designated primary environmental corridor tributary to Powers Lake; 4)Encourage public knowledge and understanding of wetland ecosystems through programming in consultation with relevant institutions and agencies.
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 |
|---|
| 744200 | Powers Lake | 10006659 | Powers Lake | 6/1/1995 | 9/23/2014 | Map | Data |
| 744200 | Powers Lake | 10046699 | Phragmites Occurrence - Powers Lake | 9/26/2015 | 9/15/2017 | Map | Data |
| 744200 | Powers Lake | 303050 | Powers Lake - Deep Hole | 7/23/1986 | 9/28/2021 | Map | Data |
| 744200 | Powers Lake | 10017582 | Powers Lake -- Access at End Of 396th Ave | 5/24/2009 | 9/2/2021 | Map | Data |
| 744200 | Powers Lake | 10017581 | Powers Lake -- Access Nr County Hwy F | 6/3/2006 | 9/2/2021 | Map | Data |
| 744200 | Powers Lake | 10017583 | Powers Lake -- Access Off Powers Lake Rd | 8/7/2004 | 7/4/2010 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Powers Lake is located in the White River and Nippersink Creek watershed which is 168.35 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (44.80%), forest (14.40%) and a mix of wetland (11.30%) and other uses (29.50%). This watershed has 239.00 stream miles, 8,603.24 lake acres and 10,838.84 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked High for runoff impacts on streams, Medium 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.This water is ranked High Lake for individual Lakes based on runoff problems and the likelihood of success from project implementation.