Vilas
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No
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Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Irving Lake, in the Manitowish River Watershed, is a 418.65 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
Irving Lake T-41-N, R-8-E, Sections 2 and 3,
Area = 403 Surface Acres, Maximum Depth = 8 feet
Irving Lake is a moderately fertile drainage lake. It has
clear, alkaline water of low transparency depending somewhat upon
the algal response to the lake's fertility. Bottom materials
consist chiefly of muck and sand, with some gravel and rock. The
outlet stream is considered to be navigable. The principal fish
species present are the muskellunge, walleye, largemouth bass and
pan fish. In the shallow, mucky areas of the lake, aquatic weeds
are a problem to navigation. There is access by a town road with
parking, as well as by navigable water. There is also difficult or
unimproved access available. There are two state-owned islands on
this water which provide picnic and canoe camp sites. Boat rentals
are available in the vicinity. There are two cottages on this
lake. Due to the extensive public frontage, much of the wilderness
character of the shore line has been retained. Beaver are known to
be present and the lake is of significance to waterfowl. The lake
is used as a nesting site by mallard and black ducks and is used on
the fall and spring migration by puddle ducks,
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
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 |
|---|
| 2340900 | Irving Lake | 10019911 | Irving Lake -- Boat Ramp | 6/23/2007 | 9/15/2024 | Map | Data |
| 2340900 | Irving Lake | 10006001 | Irving Lake | 8/29/2000 | 7/28/2020 | Map | Data |
| 2340900 | Irving Lake | 10014843 | Irving Lake | | | Map | Data |
| 2340900 | Irving Lake | 10014836 | Irving Lake 2001 Comp Data | | | Map | Data |
| 2340900 | Irving Lake | 643489 | Irving Lake at Point Of Maximum Depth | 10/2/1998 | 7/28/2020 | Map | Data |
| 2340900 | Irving Lake | 10049228 | Irving Lake - Island Site | 8/25/2017 | 9/27/2024 | Map | Data |
| 2340900 | Irving Lake | 10052641 | Irving Lake Staff Gage | 7/16/2018 | 10/4/2024 | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Irving 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.