Waupaca
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Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Spencer Lake (Silver), in the Walla Walla and Alder Creeks Watershed, is a 69.67 acre lake that falls in Waupaca County. This lake is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently not considered impaired.
Date 2011
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Source: 1971, Surface Water Resources of Waupaca County Spencer Lake, T21N, R11, 12E, Section 13, 18 Surface Acres = 89.0; S.D.F. = 1.08, Maximum Depth = 52 feet.
Spencer Lake is a fairly large drainage basin containing hard alkaline water. Large amounts of suspended marl particles give the water a milky blue color. Two inlets, a perennial stream from Jenson Lake and an intermittent inlet from nearby Bass Lake. The outlet forms the head waters of Walla Walla Creek. Littoral bottom materials consist of marl and sand. The fishery of Spencer Lake is quite diverse. Warmwater species present are northern pike, walleye, perch, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, bluegill, black crappie, green sunfish, bullhead, carp, and white sucker. Brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, cisco, and whitefish are the cold water species present. Carp are present in sufficient numbers to be a problem. Because of a high degree of development around the lake, waterfowl use is limited. Two town landings with adequate parking facilities provide public access. Seventy cottages and dwellings and the Spencer Lake Bible Camp are located on the lake. In an effort to minimize dangerous use conflicts from occurring, the Waupaca County Board has enacted an ordinance limiting the time when water skiing is allowed.
Date 1971
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
General Condition
Spencer Lake (Silver) (255000) was assessed during the 2016 listing cycle; total phosphorus and chlorophyll sample data were clearly below 2016 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Recreation use and Fish and Aquatic Life use. This water is meeting these designated uses and is not considered impaired.
Date 2015
Author Ashley Beranek
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 |
|---|
| 255000 | Spencer Lake | 693172 | Spencer Lake - Site 2 - S. Central Site | 5/22/1996 | 9/25/2000 | Map | Data |
| 255000 | Spencer Lake | 10007308 | Spencer Lake | 7/27/1999 | 3/9/2024 | Map | Data |
| 255000 | Spencer Lake | 693029 | Spencer Lake - Deep Hole-Site 1 | 2/16/1977 | 11/6/2024 | Map | Data |
| 255000 | Spencer Lake | 10019210 | Spencer Lake -- Access | 6/29/2012 | 8/18/2018 | Map | Data |
| 255000 | Spencer Lake | 693173 | Spencer Lake - Site 3 - SE Site | 5/22/1996 | 9/25/2000 | Map | Data |
| 255000 | Spencer Lake | 693174 | Spencer Lake - Site 4 - North Site | 5/22/1996 | 9/25/2000 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Spencer Lake is located in the Walla Walla and Alder Creeks watershed which is 112.09 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (31.30%), wetland (22.90%) and a mix of forest (20.60%) and other uses (25.30%). This watershed has 172.60 stream miles, 7,232.18 lake acres and 16,571.69 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked High for runoff impacts on streams, High for runoff impacts on lakes and High for runoff impacts on groundwater and therefore has an overall rank of High. 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.