Ballard Lake (Ballard Chain), Manitowish River Watershed (UC16)
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Ballard Lake (Ballard Chain), Manitowish River Watershed (UC16)
Ballard Lake (Ballard Chain) (2340700)
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502.59 Acres
Natural Community
Natural communities (stream and lake natural communities) represent model results that use predicted flow and temperature based on landscape features and related assumptions. Ranges of flow and temperature associated with specific aquatic life communities (fish, macroinvertebrates) help biologists identify appropriate resource management goals. Wisconsin Natural Communities.
Shallow Headwater
Year Last Monitored
This is the most recent date of monitoring data stored in SWIMS. Additional surveys for fish and habitat may be available subsequent to this date.
2024
Good
 
This lake is impaired
Mercury Contaminated Fish Tissue
Mercury
 
Vilas
Trout Water 
Trout Waters are represented by Class I, Class II or Class III waters. These classes have specific ecological characteristics and management actions associated with them. For more information regarding Trout Classifications, see the Fisheries Trout Class Webpages.
No
Outstanding or Exceptional 
Wisconsin has designated many of the state's highest quality waters as Outstanding Resource Waters (ORWs) or Exceptional Resource Waters (ERWs). Waters designated as ORW or ERW are surface waters which provide outstanding recreational opportunities, support valuable fisheries and wildlife habitat, have good water quality, and are not significantly impacted by human activities. ORW and ERW status identifies waters that the State of Wisconsin has determined warrant additional protection from the effects of pollution. These designations are intended to meet federal Clean Water Act obligations requiring Wisconsin to adopt an 'antidegradation' policy that is designed to prevent any lowering of water quality - especially in those waters having significant ecological or cultural value.
No
Impaired Water 
A water is polluted or 'impaired' if it does not support full use by humans, wildlife, fish and other aquatic life and it is shown that one or more of the pollutant criteria are not met.
Yes

Fish and Aquatic Life

Current Use
The use the water currently supports. This is not a designation or classification; it is based on the current condition of the water. Information in this column is not designed for, and should not be used for, regulatory purposes.
Shallow Headwater
Shallow headwater lake describes the depth and location of the lake in a watershed. These variables affect the lakes response to watershed variables.
Attainable Use
The use that the investigator believes the water could achieve through managing "controllable" sources. Beaver dams, hydroelectric dams, low gradient streams, and naturally occurring low flows are generally not considered controllable. The attainable use may be the same as the current use or it may be higher.
Cold
Streams capable of supporting a cold water sport fishery, or serving as a spawning area for salmonids and other cold water fish species. Representative aquatic life communities, associated with these waters, generally require cold temperatures and concentrations of dissolved oxygen that remain above 6 mg/L. Since these waters are capable of supporting natural reproduction, a minimum dissolved oxygen concentration of 7 mg/L is required during times of active spawning and support of early life stages of newly-hatched fish.
Designated Use
This is the water classification legally recognized by NR102 and NR104, Wis. Adm. Code. The classification determines water quality criteria and effluent limits. Waters obtain designated uses through classification procedures.
Default FAL
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.

Overview

Ballard Lake, in the Manitowish River Watershed, is a 502.58 acre lake that falls in Vilas County. This lake is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently considered impaired.

Date  2011

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

Source: 1963, Surface Water Resources of Vilas County Ballard Lake, T-41-N, R-8-E, Section 3, 4, 9, and 10, Area = 505 Surface Acres, Maximum Depth = 25 feet A moderately fertile, alkaline drainage lake with clear water of low transparency, Ballard Lake is known as a muskellunge-walleye lake. Bottom materials are composed of sand and gravel. Muskellunge and walleyes are abundant and wild ducks use the lake for nesting and for feeding during, their spring and fall migration. Public access is available through a town landing and also by navigating the inlet or outlet. There is one resort and W.C.D. canoe camp sites are designated for canoeists who use this lake. There are 13 cottages on the shore line. Aesthetic values are excellent; wilderness values being largely retained by the extensive amount of state-owned frontage.

Date  1963

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Ballard Lake (Ballard Chain), Manitowish River Watershed (UC16) Fish and Aquatic LifeBallard Lake (Ballard Chain), Manitowish River Watershed (UC16) RecreationBallard Lake (Ballard Chain), Manitowish River Watershed (UC16) Fish Consumption

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

LPL 1672 18_CompMgmtPln_Ballard_Aug22
2020 Comprehensive WQ Assessments
Final Draft 2018 Impaired Waters List
Final Assessment Data from TSI Package and Assessment Units 2018
Ballard Lake, Vilas County - Aquatic Plant Sampling Map (57 mpts)
Ballard Lake, Vilas County - Garmin Text File
AIS Early Detection 2012 Data Form Vilas Ballard Lake 2340700
Lake Monitoring for Aquatic Invasive Species in 2006 - A Report to the Town of Plum Lake, Vilas County
White Birch-Ballard-Irving Lakes Vilas County, Wisconsin Lake Management Plan
Lake Bathymetry Map for Ballard Lake

Recommendations

Monitor Fish Tissue

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 PLUM LAKE: Town of Plum Lake Clean Boats Clean Waters 20132013
TOWN OF PLUM LAKE: Town Of Plum Lake 2017 CBCW2017
VILAS COUNTY: HLK-Vilas Co HLK Projects2020
TOWN OF PLUM LAKE: AIS Education Project2008
Monitoring Recommendations Stemming from CWA / IR Listings2000
TOWN OF PLUM LAKE: Town of Plum Lake 2015 Clean Boats Clean Waters Project2015
TOWN OF PLUM LAKE: Town of Plum Lake 2021 CBCW2021
TOWN OF PLUM LAKE: I-LIDS Camera Monitoring #4 - Ballard Lake2018
VILAS COUNTY: PREV - Vilas County 2024 Prohibited & Priority Species Prevention & Monitoring Project2024
Fish Propagation Actions2001
TOWN OF PLUM LAKE: Plum, Star, Ballard and Laura Lake Clean Boats Clean Waters Project 20142014

Monitoring Projects

WBICOfficial Waterbody NameStation IDStation NameEarliest Fieldwork DateLatest Fieldwork DateView StationView Data
2340700Ballard Lake643224Ballard Lake - Deep Hole7/10/19847/28/2020MapData
2340700Ballard Lake10020337Ballard Lake -- Landing5/27/20079/15/2024MapData
2340700Ballard Lake10014835Ballard Lake 2001 Comp SurveyMapData
2340700Ballard Lake10049055Ballard Lake - Musky Alley Deep Hole8/24/20179/27/2024MapData
2340700Ballard Lake10005999Ballard Lake8/29/20007/28/2020MapData

Watershed Characteristics

Ballard 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.

Natural Community

Ballard Lake (Ballard Chain) is considered a Shallow Headwater under the state's Natural Community Determinations.

Natural communities (stream and lake natural communities) represent model results and DNR staff valiation processes that confirm or update predicted conditions based on flow and temperature modeling from historic and current landscape features and related variables. Predicated flow and temperatures for waters are associated predicated fish assemblages (communities). Biologists evaluate the model results against current survey data to determine if the modeled results are corect and whether biological indicators show water quaity degradation. This analysis is a core component of the state's resource management framework. Wisconsin's Riverine Natural Communities.

Shallow headwater lake describes the depth and location of the lake in a watershed. These variables affect the lakes response to watershed variables.

Maps of Watershed
BALLARD LAKE NESTS