La Crosse
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Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Veterans Memorial Park Pond is a drained impoundment located within the LaCrosse River floodplain and having hard, alkaline, clear water with a low transparency. As the name indicates, this water is located within a public park that includes picnic and camping areas. At the time of investigation, the dam has a height of four feet; however, a drop inlet structure having a bottom draw and a 42-inch riser tube has now been installed. The pond is managed for brown and rainbow trout, and fish are stocked annually. The pond suffers from periodic winterkill conditions, and on occasion floodwaters from the LaCrosse River enter the pond. In order to minimize competition for the trout, chemical treatment has been necessary. In 1970, such a project resulted in a kill of carp, sucker, bullhead, largemouth bass, northern pike, crappie, green sunfish, and flathead minnows. The park roadway provides easy access for bank fishing. Muskrat numbers are insignificant. There is a "captive" mallard flock at the park, and some puddle ducks use the water during their migration.
Source: 1971, Surface Water Resources of LaCrosse County Veterans Memorial Park Pond, T16N, R6W, S5 Surface Acres = 3.8, S.D.F. = 1.83, Maximum Depth = 7.5 feet
Date 1971
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
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 |
|---|
| 1652200 | Veterans Memorial Park Pond | 10050884 | Veterans Memorial Park Pond | | | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Veterans Memorial Park Pond is located in the Lower La Crosse River watershed which is 145.46 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (42.30%), agricultural (14.80%) and a mix of urban (10.30%) and other uses (32.50%). This watershed has 295.20 stream miles, 1,187.12 lake acres and 5,641.64 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Medium for runoff impacts on streams, Not Ranked 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.