Sawyer
No
Yes
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Barker Lake, in the East Fork Chippewa River Watershed, is a 212.94 acre lake that falls in Sawyer County. This lake is an outstanding/exceptional resource water under NR102 under the Fisheries Program. 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 Barker Lake, T40N, R5W, Section 29, 32
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 = 238.2, Maximum Depth = 12 feet, M.P.A.= 63 ppm, Secchi Disk = 4 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 |
|---|
| 2400600 | Hunter Lake | 10009797 | East Fork Chippewa River - betw. Barker and Hunter | | | Map | Data |
| 2400000 | Barker Lake | 584002 | Barker Lake - Barker Lake | 7/21/1979 | 7/3/2023 | Map | Data |
| 2399800 | East Fork Chippewa River | 10009797 | East Fork Chippewa River - betw. Barker and Hunter | | | Map | Data |
| 2400000 | Barker Lake | 583166 | Barker Lake - Deep Hole | 7/25/2001 | 9/3/2003 | Map | Data |
| 2400000 | Barker Lake | 10005606 | Barker Lake | 8/29/2000 | 9/21/2017 | Map | Data |
| 2400000 | Barker Lake | 583242 | Barker Lake - Barker Lake | | | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Barker Lake is located in the East Fork Chippewa River watershed which is 305.16 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (63.90%), wetland (32.70%) and a mix of grassland (1.60%) and other uses (1.70%). This watershed has 310.53 stream miles, 2,431.41 lake acres and 65,073.81 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Not Ranked 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.