Sawyer
No
No
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Barber Lake, in the Weirgor Creek and Brunet River Watershed, is a 137.88 acre lake that falls in Sawyer County. This lake is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently not considered impaired.
Date 2011
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Source: 1969, Surface Water Resources of Sawyer County Barber Lake, T39N, R5W, Section 2, 3, 10
A hard water, drainage lake with an outlet, Barber Creek, flowing into Island Creek and the Brunet River system. The estimated normal flow of the outlet is 5.5 cfs. The fish population consists of walleyes, muskellunge, largemouth bass and the common panfishes. The upper, main body of the lake is surrounded mainly by steep slopes and partly wooded shoreline. The lower part of the lake is usually accessible by water through a broad channel. About 50 percent of the lower lake shoreline is tamarack and spruce bog. The maximum depth of the lower lake is six feet. Aquatic vegetation is mainly bulrushes pickerel weed, water lilies and pond weeds. Bottom type varies from a predominant gravel shore to muck along the wetland areas to 10 percent sand on the east shore of the lake. Its game values include a significant population of muskrats and nesting mallards and teal. Private development includes three resorts, a boat rental and 29 cottages. There is a town-owned public access on the northeast shore of the lower lake, which is the only public frontage on the lake. Barker Lake, T40N, R5W, Section 29, 32 Surface Acres = 238.2, Maximum Depth = 12 feet, M.P.A.= 63 ppm, Secchi Disk = 4 feet A hard water, drainage lake located on the East Fork of the Chippewa River. The estimated normal outlet flow of this natural lake is 280 cfs. It has a fish population of walleyes, muskellunge, largemouth and smallmouth bass and panfish. The lakeshore bottom type varies from muck to sand and coarse gravel and rock. Extensive wetlands adjoin the lake on two small feeder streams and on Boyd Creek which flows into the lake from the southeast. Extensive use of these wetlands is made by beaver and nesting ducks and mergansers. Higher than average migratory waterfowl use is made of the lake. Much of the aquatic vegetation provides excellent waterfowl food, including wild rice. Private development amounts to four resorts and 45 cottages. Public frontage is limited to a 60-foot platted access located at the northwest corner of the town road bridge on the upper end of the lake.
Surface Acres = 237.6, Maximum Depth = 21 feet, M.P.A. = 89 ppm, Secchi Disk = 7 feet
Date 1969
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
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 |
|---|
| 2382300 | Barber Lake | 10005574 | Barber Lake | 8/29/2000 | 7/20/2022 | Map | Data |
| 2382300 | Barber Lake | 584001 | Barber Lake - Barber Lake | | | Map | Data |
| 2382300 | Barber Lake | 583172 | Barber Lake - Deep Hole | 7/21/1979 | 9/29/2022 | Map | Data |
| 2382300 | Barber Lake | 10018617 | Barber Lake -- Access at North End Of Lake Off Malm Rd | 7/30/2010 | 8/14/2024 | Map | Data |
| 2382300 | Barber Lake | 583164 | Barber Lake - North Basin | 6/12/2001 | 9/3/2017 | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Barber Lake is located in the Weirgor Creek and Brunet River watershed which is 324.00 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (64.80%), wetland (24.80%) and a mix of agricultural (4.10%) and other uses (6.40%). This watershed has 407.41 stream miles, 2,240.99 lake acres and 39,377.08 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Low 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.