Vilas
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No
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Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
, in the Eagle River Watershed, is a 977.54 acre lake that falls in Vilas County. This lake is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently not considered impaired.
Date 2011
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Source: 1963, Surface Water Resources of Vilas County Catfish Lake, T-40-N, R-10-E, Sections 25, 30, 31, 35, and 36,
Catfish Lake is a fertile drainage lake. It has slightly alkaline to neutral light brown water of low transparency. Bottom materials are, quite varied; however, sand does predominate. Both the inlet and the outlet are freely navigable, as the lake is part of the Eagle Chain. From the standpoint of fishing, muskellunge and walleyes are considered to be the principal game fish species besides pan fish; however, largemouth bass are also common in Catfish Lake. It is a lake of multiple use capacity and as a part of the Eagle Chain, powerboating and water-skiing are important activities on the lake. Public use opportunities are excellent as the lake not only has good public access, but there are 11 resorts and two boat rental places. There are 105 cottages scattered along the shore. The public access facility is maintained by the City of Eagle River.
Area = 991 Surface Acres, Maximum Depth = 26 feet
Date 1963
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
Recommendations
Lake Management Plan Implementation
The Town of Washington is sponsoring a project on Anvil Lake, Vilas County. The project will focus on studying water quality and developing an Anvil Lake Management Plan (LMP). Project activities include: 1) Develop water and P budget; 2) Water quality evaluation and groundwater assessment; 3) WiLMS simulation modeling; 4) Stakeholder participation; 5) Collect sediment cores for historical and future lake water quality assessment; 6) Implementation of County sewage ordinance and association shoreline restoration project; 7) Develop annual reports, a scientific investigations report and LMP.
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 |
|---|
| 1599500 | Eagle River | 10029368 | Eagle River at STH-70 | 10/15/2008 | 1/1/2015 | Map | Data |
| 1603700 | Catfish Lake | 643570 | Catfish Lake - East Site Site 2 | 8/18/2002 | 8/29/2024 | Map | Data |
| 1603700 | Catfish Lake | 644065 | Catfish Lake - Catfish Lake | 8/22/1979 | 8/22/1979 | Map | Data |
| 1603700 | Catfish Lake | 10028807 | Catfish Lake South Bay Littoral Zone (O 08 Ta) | 5/22/2008 | 6/28/2008 | Map | Data |
| 1603700 | Catfish Lake | 10037888 | Catfish Lake HAB sample | 7/24/2012 | 7/24/2012 | Map | Data |
| 1603700 | Catfish Lake | 10006004 | Catfish Lake | 4/28/1993 | 9/30/2017 | Map | Data |
| 1603700 | Catfish Lake | 10028812 | Catfish Lake North Bay Littoral Zone (C 08#4) | 5/22/2008 | 6/29/2008 | Map | Data |
| 1603700 | Catfish Lake | 10028809 | Catfish Lake North Bay Littoral Zone (C 08#1) | 5/22/2008 | 6/29/2008 | Map | Data |
| 1603700 | Catfish Lake | 643127 | Catfish Lake - Deep Hole Site 1 West | 8/6/1973 | 8/29/2024 | Map | Data |
| 1603700 | Catfish Lake | 10028811 | Catfish Lake North Bay Littoral Zone (C 08#3) | 5/22/2008 | 6/29/2008 | Map | Data |
| 1603700 | Catfish Lake | 10028813 | Catfish Lake North Bay Littoral Zone (C 08#5) | 5/22/2008 | 6/29/2008 | Map | Data |
| 1603700 | Catfish Lake | 10028810 | Catfish Lake North Bay Littoral Zone (C 08#2) | 5/22/2008 | 6/29/2008 | Map | Data |
| 1603700 | Catfish Lake | 10018702 | Catfish Lake -- Boat Launch | 5/24/2008 | 7/19/2024 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Catfish Lake is located in the Eagle River watershed which is 181.70 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (55.60%), wetland (28%) and a mix of open (12.90%) and other uses (3.50%). This watershed has 146.13 stream miles, 15,720.03 lake acres and 32,094.84 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Not Ranked for runoff impacts on streams, High 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.