Chippewa
No
No
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Axehandle Lake, in the Lake Chetek Watershed, is a 86.10 acre lake that falls in Chippewa 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 Chippewa County Axhandle Lake T32N, R9W, Sections 3, 4, 9, and 10
A soft water, seepage lake with an intermittent inlet from Dark Lake and an intermittent outlet to the Ten Mile Creek system. it is presently managed for northern pike, largemouth bass and pan fish; although at one time an unsuccessful attempt was made to establish a two story trout population here. The lake and surrounding shore provide some habitat to nesting mallards and teal and a resting place for other ducks and coots on migration. Private development consists of a boat rental and forty cottages. Public access and parking is available at a one-acre town park on the east side, and at two narrow, developed platted access roads on the west and southwest side, there is in addition, one undeveloped 33 -foot public access way for a total of 400 feet of public frontage.
Surface Acres = 87.8, S.D.F. = 2.15, Maximum Depth = 70 feet
Date 1963
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
General Condition
Axehandle Lake (2092500) 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
Monitor Water Level
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the University of Wisconsin-Extension have developed a citizen-based, statewide lake-level monitoring effort.
Monitor Water Level
Axehandle Lake Water Level Monitoring (wbic: 2092500)
Easement/Buffer
WWLT is seeking $200,000 in Lake Protection Grant funding to contribute to the cost of a conservation easement designed to protect a 48.55-acre parcel on Axe Handle Lake from development into rural residential housing (up to 31 lots possible under current Chippewa Co. shoreland zoning). The easement would permanently restrict future development to no more than two residential lots, require that all stormwater from development be infiltrated prior to reaching the lake, and require maintenance of a 100-foot forested vegetative buffer to protect the lake's water quality and natural scenic beauty.
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 |
|---|
| 2092500 | Axhandle Lake | 10018588 | Axhandle Lake -- Access at S End Of Lake Off 296th Ave. | | | Map | Data |
| 2092500 | Axhandle Lake | 10001971 | Axhandle Lake | 4/10/1994 | 8/27/2018 | Map | Data |
| 2092500 | Axhandle Lake | 10014922 | Axhandle Lake | | | Map | Data |
| 2092500 | Axhandle Lake | 10018587 | Axhandle Lake -- Access at E Side Of Lake Off 100th St | 5/26/2005 | 7/19/2023 | Map | Data |
| 2092500 | Axhandle Lake | 093053 | Axhandle Lake - Deep Hole | 5/22/1990 | 10/18/2024 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Axhandle Lake is located in the Lake Chetek watershed which is 212.00 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (48.80%), agricultural (19.70%) and a mix of grassland (14.50%) and other uses (17.00%). This watershed has 270.25 stream miles, 2,008.86 lake acres and 10,678.22 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Medium for runoff impacts on streams, High 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.