Vilas
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Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Little Trout Lake, in the Bear River Watershed, is a 1,006.51 acre lake that falls in Vilas 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 Vilas County
Trout (Little) Lake, T-42-N, R-5 E, Sections 34 and 35,
Area = 982 Surface Acres, Maximum Depth = 91 feet
Little Trout Lake is a seepage lake of moderate fertility,
having clear water of moderate transparency. Bottom materials
consist of sand and muck, with gravel and some rock. The outlet
stream is small and shallow. The lake supports both a warm water
and cold water fishery with the muskellunge, walleye, largemouth
bass, smallmouth bass and pan fish comprising the warm water
species. Cold water species present are cisco. Public access is
possible by means of a town road with parking facilities, or
theunimproved or difficult type access over state land. There are
four cottages located on the shore line. The lake is significant
both to muskrat and beaver. Puddle ducks, diving ducks and Canada
geese are known to use this lake on their spring and fall
migration. This lake, because of it's size and the limited number
of dwellings located on the shore, provides good aesthetic
qualities. There is considerable riparian diversion of water from
this lake for cranberry culture.
Date 1963
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
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
Master Planning
This project will complete a Smart Growth compliant plan for the Township of Manitowish Waters. Specifically, this grant will cover portions of the agricultural/natural resources/cultural, internal governmental, land use, and implementation strategy elements.
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 |
|---|
| TOWN OF LAC DU FLAMBEAU: AIS Watercraft Inspection, Education & Lake Monitoring Project | 2009 |
| TOWN OF MANITOWISH WATERS: LMI-DF-Town of Manitowish Waters | 2001 |
| TOWN OF MANITOWISH WATERS: AIS Education, Prevention & Planning Project | 2007 |
| TOWN OF LAC DU FLAMBEAU: AIS Watercraft Inspection, Education, & Lake Monitoring Project | 2007 |
| TOWN OF LAC DU FLAMBEAU: AIS Watercraft Inspection, Education & Lake Monitoring | 2008 |
| TOWN OF MANITOWISH WATERS: Manitowish Waters AIS Education, Prevention & Planning Project | 2006 |
| TOWN OF LAC DU FLAMBEAU: AIS Boat Inspection, Education, & Lake Monitoring | 2006 |
| TOWN OF MANITOWISH WATERS: AIS Education, Prevention and Planning Project | 2008 |
| TOWN OF LAC DU FLAMBEAU: AIS Watercraft Inspection, Education & Lake Monitoring Project | 2010 |
| Fish Propagation Actions | 2001 |
| TOWN OF LAC DU FLAMBEAU: Lake Steward Program | 2011 |
|
Monitoring Projects
| WBIC | Official Waterbody Name | Station ID | Station Name | Earliest Fieldwork Date | Latest Fieldwork Date | View Station | View Data |
|---|
| 2321600 | Little Trout Lake | 643012 | Little Trout Lake At Inkwell - Cran Study Little Trout-Inkwell | 11/8/1971 | 3/30/1977 | Map | Data |
| 2321600 | Little Trout Lake | 643576 | Little Trout Lake - East Shoreline | 9/3/2003 | 9/3/2003 | Map | Data |
| 2321600 | Little Trout Lake | 10006029 | Little Trout Lake | 8/29/2000 | 9/21/2017 | Map | Data |
| 2321600 | Little Trout Lake | 643015 | Little Trout Lake - Cran Study Little Trout L-Sowest | 10/26/1971 | 11/1/1976 | Map | Data |
| 2321600 | Little Trout Lake | 643014 | Little Trout Lake - Cran Study Little Trout L-Center | 8/6/1971 | 11/1/1976 | Map | Data |
| 2321600 | Little Trout Lake | 10018805 | Little Trout Lake -- Access - S End Lake - Nr Little Trout Rd | 6/4/2006 | 6/18/2021 | Map | Data |
| 2321600 | Little Trout Lake | 643013 | Little Trout Lake - Cran Study Little Trout L-Noeast | 4/28/1971 | 3/30/1977 | Map | Data |
| 2321600 | Little Trout Lake | 643008 | Weber Cranberry Ditch To Inkwell - Cran Study So Weber Dit To Inkwl | 10/26/1971 | 3/30/1977 | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Little Trout Lake is located in the Bear River watershed which is 145.45 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (48.20%), wetland (32.30%) and a mix of open (17.90%) and other uses (1.70%). This watershed has 109.53 stream miles, 16,823.52 lake acres and 30,671.84 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.