Fond Du Lac
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Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Forest Lake, in the East and West Branches Milwaukee River Watershed, is a 50.59 acre lake that falls in Fond du Lac County. This lake is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently considered impaired.
Date 2011
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
This is a relatively small, landlocked, "kettle hole" lake. Steep wooded hills completely surround the lake. Nearly the entire shallows is muck, with abundant vegetation in the extensive shallow areas.
The Association of Property Owners conducted a hydraulic dredging project in 1963 and 1964, which removed material from the shoreline to a depth of 12 feet at a distance of 150 feet into the lake. This was done on about 3,000 feet of the 7,000 feet of shoreline, at a cost of $30,000. Sixteen hundred feet of the lake frontage is publicly owned--part of the Kettle Moraine State Forest. However, at present there is no boat launching site, with access restricted to walking in with a light boat or canoe.
There is a very limited amount of marsh shoreline, so waterfowl and furbearer use of the lake is negligible. The fish population is dominated by small, slow- growing panfish, particularly bluegill and black crappie. There is a fair number of largemouth bass, and a rare northern pike. Undoubtedly the fishing could be much improved with a chemical rehabilitation program. Source: 1969, Surface Water Resources of Fond du Lac County Forest Lake, T13N, R19E, Section 12 Surface Acres = 50.5, S.D.F. = 1.31, Maximum Depth = 27 feet
Date 1969
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
Recommendations
Aquatic Invasive Species Removal
The Forest Lake Improvement Assn proposes to utilize biological control of the Eurasian Water Milfoil by using the native beetle, Euhrychiopsis lecontei (milfoil weevil). This control will consequently help to prevent the spreading of EWM into the 10 nearby lakes.
Monitor Fish Tissue
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 |
|---|
| 8900 | Forest Lake | 10044688 | Forest Lake - NE (Herbicide Monitoring Site 1) | 5/20/2016 | 7/1/2016 | Map | Data |
| 8900 | Forest Lake | 10044689 | Forest Lake - SW (Herbicide Monitoring Site 2) | 5/20/2016 | 7/1/2016 | Map | Data |
| 8900 | Forest Lake | 203076 | Forest Lake - Deep Hole | 8/2/1986 | 8/25/2024 | Map | Data |
| 8900 | Forest Lake | 10002449 | Forest Lake | 7/1/1992 | 9/30/2017 | Map | Data |
| 8900 | Forest Lake | 10020084 | Forest Lake -- Canoe Launch | 7/23/2013 | 8/21/2021 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Forest Lake is located in the East and West Branches Milwaukee River watershed which is 266.00 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (35.50%), wetland (19.20%) and a mix of forest (17.90%) and other uses (27.40%). This watershed has 312.44 stream miles, 2,023.13 lake acres and 32,107.47 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.