Overview

Rib Lake is a hard water, drainage lake located at the headwaters of the Rib River in the Village of Rib Lake. There is a four-foot head roller dam on the outlet, that maintains the water at a stable level. There are many management problems connected with this lake. Summerkills, as well as, winterkills are common. Algae blooms occur in the summer. There is an excessive amount of aquatic vegetation growth that is being artificially controlled to some degree by the use of a mechanical weed harvester. Organic pollution from shoreline developments has tended to make the algae and weed growth a greater problem than it would otherwise be. As a result of summerkills and winterkills, the most hardy fish have survived, and the lake is now overpopulated with bullheads. Other fish present are muskellunge, northern pike, walleye, largemouth bass, perch, bluegills, black crappies, rock bass pumpkinseeds, and white suckers. The shoreline vegetation is approximately 80 per- cent upland hardwood and 15 percent black spruce. The littoral bottom is approximately 50 percent muck, 30 percent sand, and 20 percent gravel. There is a wide variety of aquatic plants present. Muskrat use is significant, but beaver are absent. Mallards, blue- winged teal, wood ducks, and hooded mergansers use the lakeshore for nesting. Migratory waterfowl use is heavy, with large numbers of puddle and diving ducks using the lake during their migrations. Public access with parking is available. A park is located a few hundred feet off the northeast corner of the lake. There are picnic facilities and a boat launching site. There is one resort and six dwellings located along the shoreline with approximately 25 more dwellings and a cemetery set back from the lake shore.

Source: 1970, Surface Water Resources of Taylor County Rib Lake, T33N, R2E, Section 26 Surface Acres = 320.0, Maximum Depth = 9 feet, M.P.A. = 65 PPM

Date  1970

Author   Aquatic Biologist

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

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

Rib Lake is located in the Upper Rib River watershed which is 197.07 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (51.60%), wetland (26.90%) and a mix of agricultural (13.60%) and other uses (7.90%). This watershed has stream miles, lake acres and 17,127.41 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked Low for runoff impacts on streams, Low for runoff impacts on lakes and Low for runoff impacts on groundwater and therefore has an overall rank of Low. 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.