Walworth
No
No
Yes
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Beulah Lake is an impounded series of natural lakes managed for largemouth bass and panfish with northern pike present but not common to the fishery. The shoreline is highly irregular with many bays and peninsulas. Originally this was a chain of three lakes; however, a dam on the outlet (built about 1840) created one sheet of water with 5 major basins separated by shallows. Weeds are a problem in the shallow bays and flooded connecting channels. Public access is provided but restricted in construction to accommodate light fishing boats only. Fee launching is provided at 4 private ramps. Nearly 200 acres of wetland occupy the shoreline. There are 4 private camps on the lake (Girl Scouts, Y.M.C.A., and church groups).
Source: 1961, Surface Water Resources of Walworth County,WI: WI-DNR Beulah Lake, T-4-N, R-18-E, Surface Acres =712, S.D.F.=2.54, Maximum Depth 58 feet.
Date 1961
Author Aquatic Biologist
Impaired Waters
Lake Beulah was evaluated for phosphorus and algae every two years between 2016 and 2020. Phosphorus levels were found to be too high for healthy plant, bug, and fish communities. This lake is proposed for listing in 2020.
Date 2019
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.
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 |
|---|
| 766600 | Lake Beulah | 653285 | Lake Beulah - Station 1a - South Of Buck Island | 6/13/1991 | 8/12/2023 | Map | Data |
| 766600 | Lake Beulah | 653120 | Pickerel Lake - (Outlet) | 9/18/1973 | 11/12/1974 | Map | Data |
| 766600 | Lake Beulah | 653136 | Lake Beulah - Station 3 | 6/13/1991 | 8/19/2024 | Map | Data |
| 766600 | Lake Beulah | 653137 | Lake Beulah - Station 4 | 6/13/1991 | 8/19/2024 | Map | Data |
| 766600 | Lake Beulah | 653135 | Lake Beulah - Station 2 | 6/13/1991 | 8/22/2024 | Map | Data |
| 766600 | Lake Beulah | 653121 | Lake Beulah - Station 1 - Deep Hole | 9/18/1973 | 8/22/2024 | Map | Data |
| 766600 | Lake Beulah | 10006676 | Beulah Lake | 10/5/1963 | 9/30/2017 | Map | Data |
| 766600 | Lake Beulah | 10017636 | Lake Beulah -- Access on E Side Of Lake At The End Of Beach Rd | 7/19/2003 | 7/23/2010 | Map | Data |
| 766600 | Lake Beulah | 10037045 | Lake Beulah at Stringers Bridge Rd | 8/26/2008 | 8/22/2024 | Map | Data |
| 766600 | Lake Beulah | 10017630 | Beulah Lake -- Access at South End Of Lake | 2/7/1994 | 7/26/2024 | Map | Data |
| 766600 | Lake Beulah | 653138 | Lake Beulah - Station 5 | 7/3/1991 | 8/19/2024 | Map | Data |
| 766600 | Lake Beulah | 10017993 | Lake Beulah -- Access Off County Hwy J | 8/12/2011 | 8/12/2011 | Map | Data |
| 766600 | Lake Beulah | 10057156 | Lake Beulah Shoreline - Potential Biocontrol Site | 7/14/2023 | 7/26/2024 | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Lake Beulah is located in the Mukwonago River watershed which is 86.21 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (28.40%), agricultural (22.80%) and a mix of suburban (16.90%) and other uses (31.90%). This watershed has 63.38 stream miles, 2,340.41 lake acres and 4,822.44 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Medium for runoff impacts on streams, High 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.