Barron
No
No
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Kirby Lake is a 92-acre seepage lake with a maximum depth of only 19 feet and an average depth of
10 feet. Periodic winterkills were a ~roblem until 1988, after whlch an aeration system was
installed. Water level fluctuations of three to four feet also contribute to water quality problems.
The lake community formed a lake management district in 1990 and is aggressively pursuing a
program of lake management activities aimed at the development of a comprehensive lake
management plan.
A self-help program volunteer has collected water clarity data on Kirby Lake since 1991. The
monitoring was elevated to the TSI-level of involvement in 1992. The Kirby Lake District was
awarded a lake management planning grant in 1993 to define the watershed, quantify water quality
problems, assess land use, identify planning needs and formulate an information and education
program.
Date 1996
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Source: 1964, Surface Water Resources of Barron County Kirby Lake - Town of Maple Plain T36N, R14W, Section 14 Surface Acres = 91.7, S.D.F. = 2.41, Maximum Depth = 19 feet.
A soft water seepage lake, landlocked and having a fish population of northern pike, largemouth bass, bluegills and bullheads. The lake is surrounded by upland hardwood with the exception of a cattail-sedge marsh edge that provides habitat for the muskrats, nesting puddle ducks, and mergansers. Two miles of the shoreline on the west side is under County Forest ownership. A campground and public access is available. There is no private development.
Date 1964
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
General Condition
Kirby Lake (1858200) was assessed during the 2016 listing cycle; total phosphorus and chlorophyll sample data were clearly below 2016 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Recreation use and Fish and Aquatic Life use. This water is meeting these designated uses and is not considered impaired.
Date 2015
Author Ashley Beranek
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
Purchase Dissolved Oxygen Meter
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 |
|---|
| 5005001 | Unnamed | 10049227 | Kirby Lake - Staff Gage | | | Map | Data |
| 1858200 | Kirby Lake | 10049227 | Kirby Lake - Staff Gage | | | Map | Data |
| 1858200 | Kirby Lake | 10018149 | Kirby Lake -- Access | 8/22/2003 | 9/15/2024 | Map | Data |
| 1858200 | Kirby Lake | 10000687 | Kirby Lake | 4/19/1993 | 6/3/2023 | Map | Data |
| 1858200 | Kirby Lake | 033160 | Kirby Lake - Deep Hole | 9/27/1991 | 9/14/2024 | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Kirby Lake is located in the Hay River watershed which is 289.60 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (38%), agricultural (30.20%) and a mix of grassland (20.60%) and other uses (11.20%). This watershed has 516.98 stream miles, 2,647.38 lake acres and 15,179.56 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Not Available for runoff impacts on streams, Not Available 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.