Iron
No
No
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Wilson Lake is a medium hard water spring lake having slightly acid, clear water of low transparency. Transparency at the time of survey (September 22, 1964) was reduced due to an algae bloom. The outlet stream, Wilson Creek, does not afford any boating use and is tributary to the Flambeau Flowage. Boulders are the predominant littoral material (40 percent), with rubble (30 percent), gravel (10 percent), sand (10 percent), and muck. The shoreline is predominantly upland (95 percent) with the balance being wetland of the bog and coniferous type with same shrub. Muskellunge, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, perch, bluegill, black crappie, rock bass, pumpkinseed, and bullhead inhabit this lake. Waterfowl are expected to make limited use of this lake on their migrations. Waterfowl may use this lake as a nesting site. Loon, wood duck and osprey have been observed. Floating and emergent plants are sparse with submergent vegetation dense in limited parts of the lake basin. There are 15 dwellings and 2 resorts located on the shoreline. Public access with parking from an improved launching area and a picnic site are available.
Surface Acres = 155.0, S.D.F. = 1.89, Maximum Depth = 21 feet
Source:1970, Surface Water Resources of Iron County,WI:WI-DNR Wilson Lake, T42N, R3E, Section 16
Date 1970
Author Aquatic Biologist
General Condition
Wilson Lake (2297000) 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 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
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 |
|---|
| 2297000 | Wilson Lake | 263034 | Wilson Lake - Deep Hole | 8/25/1987 | 8/20/2024 | Map | Data |
| 2297000 | Wilson Lake | 10002748 | Wilson Lake | 8/29/2000 | 4/19/2020 | Map | Data |
| 2297000 | Wilson Lake | 10019297 | Wilson Lake -- Access | 6/16/2010 | 6/22/2019 | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Wilson Lake is located in the Flambeau Flowage watershed which is 247.18 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (56.80%), wetland (28.20%) and a mix of open (14.10%) and other uses (0.90%). This watershed has 190.98 stream miles, 10,199.06 lake acres and 43,978.35 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Not Ranked 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.