Vilas
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Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Wild Rice Lake (Half Way), in the Manitowish River Watershed, is a 384.06 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 Rice (Wild) Lake, T-41-N, R-6-E, Section 6,
Wild Rice Lake is a drainage lake of moderate fertility. It has slightly alkaline, light brown water of moderate transparency. Bottom materials consist mostly of sand with muck, gravel and rock. Both the inlet and the outlet streams are considered navigable. The principal fish species present in the lake are muskellunge, northern pike, walleye, large and smallmouth bass and pan fish. Access is possible by means of a town landing with parking, as well as by navigable water. Public use facilities consist of three resorts. There are fifteen cottages located on the shore line. Muskrats ore considered a significant fur bearer.
Area = 365 Surface Acres, Maximum Depth = 26 feet
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 MANITOWISH WATERS: AIS Education, Prevention and Planning Project | 2008 |
| TOWN OF LAC DU FLAMBEAU: AIS Watercraft Inspection, Education & Lake Monitoring | 2008 |
| UW SYSTEM BOARD OF REGEGENTS: LMI - Wild Rice: Development of a Population Risk Assessment Tool | 2021 |
| TOWN OF LAC DU FLAMBEAU: AIS Watercraft Inspection, Education & Lake Monitoring Project | 2010 |
| TOWN OF LAC DU FLAMBEAU: Lake Steward Program | 2011 |
| NORTH LAKELAND DISCOVERY CENTER: Manitowish Chain of Lakes Management Planning Project, Ph IIIb | 2014 |
| NORTH LAKELAND DISCOVERY CENTER: Manitowish Waters Chain of Lakes Aquatic Plant Studies - Phase III - Adler | 2024 |
| TOWN OF LAC DU FLAMBEAU: AIS Boat Inspection, Education, & Lake Monitoring | 2006 |
| 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 MANITOWISH WATERS: Manitowish Waters AIS Education, Prevention & Planning Project | 2006 |
| TOWN OF MANITOWISH WATERS: LMI-DF-Town of Manitowish Waters | 2001 |
| TOWN OF LAC DU FLAMBEAU: AIS Watercraft Inspection, Education & Lake Monitoring Project | 2009 |
| Fish Propagation Actions | 2001 |
| NORTH LAKELAND DISCOVERY CENTER: Manitowish Waters Chain of Lakes Aquatic Plant Studies - Phase III - Wild Rice | 2024 |
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Monitoring Projects
| WBIC | Official Waterbody Name | Station ID | Station Name | Earliest Fieldwork Date | Latest Fieldwork Date | View Station | View Data |
|---|
| 2329800 | Wild Rice Lake | 643270 | Wild Rice Lake - Deep Hole | 7/19/1984 | 9/29/2023 | Map | Data |
| 2329800 | Wild Rice Lake | 10006411 | Wild Rice Lake | 8/29/2000 | 9/5/2023 | Map | Data |
| 2329800 | Wild Rice Lake | 643001 | Wild Rice Lake - Cran Study Wild Rice Lake Center | 5/5/1971 | 10/27/1976 | Map | Data |
| 2329800 | Wild Rice Lake | 10018837 | Wild Rice Lake -- Access at End Of Townline Rd | 6/3/2006 | 7/13/2023 | Map | Data |
| 2329800 | Wild Rice Lake | 10055237 | NW side of Wild Rice Lake | 7/21/2011 | 7/27/2024 | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Wild Rice Lake is located in the Manitowish River watershed which is 268.60 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (66.90%), wetland (19.10%) and a mix of open (13.30%) and other uses (0.70%). This watershed has 212.08 stream miles, 22,943.16 lake acres and 33,727.48 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Low for runoff impacts on streams, Low 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.