Manitowoc
No
No
Yes
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Harpt Lake is a 31-acre seepage lake up to 54 feet deep with an outlet to Jambo Creek. Public access is
provided by a town road and a swimming beach. A lakefront resort also provides a boat landing. The lake is considered eutrophic and is frequently devoid of dissolved oxygen below the thermocline, yet winterkills are not a problem. Submerged rooted aquatic plants (primarily Potamogeton sp. and Ceratophyllum demersum) were abundant during a 1992 field survey. The lake supports a fishery of largemouth bass, panfish and northern pike. Agricultural runoff is a likely source of nutrient enrichment. Excessive lakeshore development is also a concern.
Date 2002
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Source: 1968, Surface Water Resources of Manitowoc County Harpt Lake, T21N, R23E, Section 17 (1) Surface acres - 31.0, S.D.F. = 1.15, Maximum depth = 49 feet.
A hard water landlocked lake in terminal moraine about 2 miles northwest of Larrabee. This seepage lake has turbid water. Muck and gravel are the principal littoral materials with some rock and sand. It is managed for largemouth bass, panfish, walleye, and northern pike. There are 4 cottages and 1 resort. Ducks make limited use of the area and there are no adjoining wetlands. Hunting is permitted. A town road provides access with parking and public frontage present.
Date 1968
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
Impaired Waters
Harpt Lake (WBIC 84600) was placed on the impaired waters list for phosphorus in 2016. Harpt Lake was evaluated for phosphorus and algae every two years between 2016 and 2020. Phosphorus levels were consistently found to be too high.
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
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 |
|---|
| 84600 | Harpt Lake | 10003563 | Harpt Lake | 6/1/1994 | 8/9/2018 | Map | Data |
| 84600 | Harpt Lake | 10015087 | Harpt Lake Baseline Electroshock | | | Map | Data |
| 84600 | Harpt Lake | 363068 | Harpt Lake - Deep Hole | 3/9/1977 | 8/23/2024 | Map | Data |
| 84600 | Harpt Lake | 10037695 | Harpt Lake nearshore | 9/5/2012 | 9/5/2012 | Map | Data |
| 84600 | Harpt Lake | 10019670 | Harpt Lake -- Access at N End Of Lake Nr Lake Rd | 7/27/2009 | 7/5/2024 | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Harpt Lake is located in the East Twin River watershed which is 183.58 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (57.30%), grassland (16.50%) and a mix of wetland (14.70%) and other uses (11.50%). This watershed has 314.70 stream miles, 12,446.75 lake acres and 14,181.41 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked High 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.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.