Oneida, Vilas
No
No
Yes
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Cranberry Lake, in the Eagle River Watershed, is a 924.33 acre lake that falls in Oneida and Vilas Counties. This lake is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently considered impaired.
Date 2015
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Source: 1963, Surface Water Resources of Vilas County Cranberry Lake, T-40-N, R-11-E, Section 31,
Cranberry Lake is a moderately-fertile drainage lake. It has light brown water of low transparency. Bottom materials are quite varied; however, gravel and sand appear to be more abundant than any Of the other materials. Both the inlet and the outlet streams are freely navigable as this lake is part of the Eagle Chain. The walleye-muskellunge combination comprises the basic fishery; however, northern pike and largemouth bass are also present as are a variety of pan fish. Public use opportunities are excellent. Public access is available through a town road with parking facilities as well as navigable water access. Six resorts provide additional public use opportunity. Boat rental facilities are available at most of the resort. Because the lake is on the Eagle Chain, water-skiing and powerboating are important activities on this lake.
Area = 940 Surface Acres, Maximum Depth = 11 feet
Date 1963
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
Impaired Waters
Cranberry Lake (WBIC 1603800) was placed on the impaired waters list for excess algal growth in 2014. The 2018 assessments showed continued excess algal growth; new chlorophyll-a sample data exceeded the 2018 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Recreation use. Total phosphorus data were clearly below the Recreation use and Fish and Aquatic Life use listing thresholds. Based on the most updated information, no change in the existing impaired waters listing was needed.
Date 2017
Author Ashley Beranek
Impaired Waters
Cranberry Lake (1603800) was placed on the impaired waters list for excess algal growth in 2014. The 2016 assessments showed continued excess algal growth; chlorophyll sample data exceed 2016 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Recreation use, however, total phosphorus were clearly below REC thresholds. Total phosphorus and chlorophyll data were clearly below Fish and Aquatic Life listing thresholds. Based on the most updated information, no change in existing impaired waters listing is needed.
Date 2015
Author Aaron Larson
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
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 |
|---|
| 1603800 | Cranberry Lake | 10028803 | Cranberry Lake East Bay Littoral Zone (H 08#4) | 5/22/2008 | 6/27/2008 | Map | Data |
| 1603800 | Cranberry Lake | 10043497 | Cranberry Lake - E Bay middle (Herbicide Monitoring Site 3) | 5/13/2015 | 5/14/2015 | Map | Data |
| 1603800 | Cranberry Lake | 10028802 | Cranberry Lake East Bay Littoral Zone (H 08#3) | 5/22/2008 | 6/27/2008 | Map | Data |
| 1603800 | Cranberry Lake | 643177 | Cranberry Lake - Deep Hole | 7/7/1992 | 9/23/2024 | Map | Data |
| 1603800 | Cranberry Lake | 643056 | Cranberry Lake - Deep Hole | 7/9/1979 | 7/9/1979 | Map | Data |
| 1603800 | Cranberry Lake | 10028801 | Cranberry Lake East Bay Littoral Zone (H 08#2) | 5/22/2008 | 6/27/2008 | Map | Data |
| 1603800 | Cranberry Lake | 10043498 | Cranberry Lake - E Bay (Herbicide Monitoring Site 4) | 5/13/2015 | 5/14/2015 | Map | Data |
| 1603800 | Cranberry Lake | 10028800 | Cranberry Lake East Bay Littoral Zone (H 08#1) | 5/22/2008 | 6/27/2008 | Map | Data |
| 1603800 | Cranberry Lake | 10006032 | Cranberry Lake | 4/27/1997 | 4/13/2024 | Map | Data |
| 1603800 | Cranberry Lake | 10028806 | Cranberry Lake North Of Island (Mid) | 5/22/2008 | 6/27/2008 | Map | Data |
| 1603800 | Cranberry Lake | 10028805 | Cranberry Lake South Littoral Zone (F 08 Ta) | 5/22/2008 | 6/27/2008 | Map | Data |
| 1603800 | Cranberry Lake | 10018835 | Cranberry Lake -- Boat Ramp | | | Map | Data |
| 1599500 | Eagle River | 10006032 | Cranberry Lake | 4/27/1997 | 4/13/2024 | Map | Data |
| 1603800 | Cranberry Lake | 10043495 | Cranberry Lake - E Bay near Eagle R (Herbicide Monitoring Site 1) | 5/13/2015 | 5/14/2015 | Map | Data |
| 1603800 | Cranberry Lake | 10028804 | Cranberry Lake East Bay Littoral Zone (H 08#5) | 5/22/2008 | 6/27/2008 | Map | Data |
| 1603800 | Cranberry Lake | 10043496 | Cranberry Lake - E Bay middle (Herbicide Monitoring Site 2) | 5/13/2015 | 5/14/2015 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Cranberry 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.