Sawyer
No
No
Yes
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Windigo Lake (Bass), in the Couderay River Watershed, is a 503.16 acre lake that falls in Sawyer County. This lake is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently considered impaired.
Date 2011
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
A large, irregularly shaped, soft water, seepage lake. It is landlocked but connected to Lake Twenty-Seven by a small channel. The fish population of Windigo Lake includes northern pike, walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, perch, bluegill, black crappie, rock bass, pumpkinseed, bullhead, and white suckers. The northern pike, largemouth bass, and bluegills predominate. Extensive and scattered wetlands totaling over 300 acres border the lake. They are mostly tamarack and spruce bogs. A few ducks nest in the lake area, but a larger number of migratory waterfowl use the lake in the spring and fall. Muskrats are common. Commercial development consists of five resorts and boat rentals. There are 42 cottages and dwellings An access with limited parking is located on the east shore, and the only other public frontage is in the shoreline of the lake's four islands.Source: 1969, Surface Water Resources of Sawyer County Windigo Lake, T40N, R9W, Section 21, 22, 27, 28 Surface Acres = 522.2, Maximum Depth = 51 feet, M.P.A. = 10 ppm, Secchi Disk = 10 feet
Date 1969
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
Impaired Waters
Windigo Lake (Bass) (2046600) was placed on the impaired waters list due to Mercury in fish tissue in 1998. This water is impaired for Fish Consumption use; a special consumption advisory is in effect for Windigo Lake. This water was assessed during the 2016 listing cycle; total phosphorus sample data were clearly below 2016 WisCALM listing thresholds for Recreation use and Fish and Aquatic Life use. Chlorophyll sample data were clearly below FAL use listing thresholds and did not exceed REC listing thresholds. This water is considered to be meeting both Recreation and Fish and Aquatic Life uses.
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
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
| Project Name (Click for Details) | Year Started |
|---|
| WINDIGO PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOC., INC: Windigo Lake Aquatic Plant Survey & Aquatic Plant Management Plan | 2011 |
| WINDIGO PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOC., INC: Windigo Property Owners Assoc., Inc 2018 CBCW | 2018 |
| WINDIGO LAKE PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOC., INC: PREV - Windigo Lake Decontamination System | 2024 |
| WINDIGO PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOC., INC: Windigo Lake Clean Boats Clean Waters Project 2015 | 2015 |
| WINDIGO PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOC., INC: Windigo Lake Association 2016 Clean Boats Clean Waters | 2016 |
| WINDIGO LAKE PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOC., INC: Windigo Lake Property Owners Assoc., Inc 2019 CBCW | 2019 |
| WINDIGO PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOC., INC: Windigo Lake Property Owners Assoc., Inc 2017 CBCW | 2017 |
| WINDIGO PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOC., INC: Windigo Lake Clean Boats Clean Waters Project 2014 | 2014 |
| WINDIGO LAKE PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOC., INC: Windigo Lake Property Owners Association 2020 CBCW | 2020 |
| Fish Propagation Actions | 2001 |
|
Monitoring Projects
| WBIC | Official Waterbody Name | Station ID | Station Name | Earliest Fieldwork Date | Latest Fieldwork Date | View Station | View Data |
|---|
| 2046600 | Windigo Lake | 10033452 | Windigo Lake adjacent to Hwy 27 | 8/10/2005 | 8/10/2005 | Map | Data |
| 2046600 | Windigo Lake | 10005544 | Windigo Lake | 9/5/2000 | 9/12/2017 | Map | Data |
| 2046600 | Windigo Lake | 10018844 | Windigo Lake -- Access at Public Launch - Off Highline Rd | 7/30/2010 | 12/1/2021 | Map | Data |
| 2046600 | Windigo Lake | 583089 | Windigo Lake - Deep Hole | 8/21/1995 | 8/28/2023 | Map | Data |
| 2046600 | Windigo Lake | 583215 | Windigo Lake - Windigo Lake | | | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Windigo Lake is located in the Couderay River watershed which is 212.25 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (64.90%), wetland (13.50%) and a mix of open (12.90%) and other uses (8.70%). This watershed has 211.96 stream miles, 18,300.76 lake acres and 14,697.69 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Low 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.