Polk
No
No
Yes
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
White Ash and North White Ash Lakes are connected and are located along and adjacent to the Apple River. The feasibility study conducted for this lake district in 1980 documented these lakes as shallow, sediment filled basins that are eutrophic in nature with no quick-fix solutions to the weed and algae problems.
High priority should be accorded these lakes for developing a long range lake management plan predicated on the priorities and needs of the lake community and tempered by the demand to protect the natural resource values that presently exist. The funding of practices that could reasonably implement the recommendations of the 1980 study, subject to the aforementioned conditions, should also receive a high priority.
Date 1992
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
White Ash Lake is a lake situated on the Apple River with a navigable inlet and a navigable outlet (2.7 cfs). Fish species present include northern pike, largemouth bass, pan fish and bullheads. Public frontage on the lake consists of one access road (430 feet) with parking and two unimproved platted access roads (461 feet and (60 feet). There is one boat rental and 14 cottages on the lake. One hundred two acres of predominantly wooded wetlands adjoin it. Mallards and wood ducks nest here. Puddle ducks and even greater numbers of diving ducks and coots use this lake during migratory seasons.
White Ash Lake T34N, R16W, Sec. 11, 2 Surface Acres = 144.1, S.D.F. = 1.50, Maximum Depth 15 ft., M.P.A. 93
Date 1965
Author Aquatic Biologist
General Condition
This water was not recommended for 2010 listing; this lake is likely to be naturally eutrophic. White Ash Lake is high in both Total Phosphorus and TSI-chlorophyll. The Average Total Phosphorus is 0.12 mg/l (2007-2008), which exceeds the threshold of .04 mg/l for shallow lowland lakes. Using the Carlson TSI calculation for 2004-2008, average TSI-chlorophyll is 73, which also exceeds the threshold of 71 for shallow lowland lakes. However, there are several sources of documentation that Polk County has both higher than normal groundwater phosphorus concentrations and high soils/geologic phosphorus concentrations, with high-nutrient glacial outwash till. These contribute to naturally eutrophic conditions in many of the lakes in the area.
Previous White Ash Lake monitoring, modeling, and management planning efforts are limited, outdated, and tend to focus only on aquatic plants. As resources allow, we recommend additional monitoring & investigation into whether there are any anthropogenic sources that may be contributing to phosphorus levels (e.g., sediment core, etc.). Additionally, this lake currently has high macrophyte growth rather than being algae dominated. The lake needs to be managed properly to maintain the macrophyte-driven system and prevent it from converting to an algae-driven system. Since extensive harvesting programs have been initiated on North White Ash, monitoring to determine whether Secchi & chlorophyll concentrations have changed post-harvesting would also be beneficial.
Date 2009
Author Aquatic Biologist
Impaired Waters
White Ash Lake (WBIC 2628600) was placed on the impaired waters list for total phosphorus in 2012. The 2018 assessments showed continued impairment by phosphorus; new total phosphorus and chlorophyll-a sample data exceeded the 2018 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Recreation use and Fish and Aquatic Life use. Based on the most updated information, no change in the existing impaired waters listing was needed.
Date 2017
Author Ashley Beranek
Impaired Waters
White Ash Lake (2628600) was placed on the impaired waters list for total phosphorus in 2012. The 2016 assessments showed continued impairment by phosphorus; total phosphorus sample data overwhelmingly exceed 2016 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Recreation use, and chlorophyll data exceed REC thresholds. Total phosphorus and chlorophyll data do not exceed Fish and Aquatic Life thresholds. Based on the most updated information, no change in existing impaired waters listing is needed.
Date 2015
Author Aaron Larson
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
Monitor or Propose 303(d) Listing
Conduct Monitoring on White Ash Lake to determine TP in background for proposed actions on this water to be listed in 2012 based on criteria exceedances.
Aquatic Plant Management Plan
The lake needs to be managed properly to maintain the macrophyte-driven system and prevent it from converting to an algae-driven system. Since extensive harvesting programs have been initiated on North White Ash, monitoring to determine whether Secchi & chlorophyll concentrations have changed post-harvesting would also be beneficial. KLM
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 |
|---|
| 2628600 | White Ash Lake | 10018318 | White Ash Lake (North) -- Access | 9/27/2007 | 7/31/2024 | Map | Data |
| 2628600 | White Ash Lake | 10018319 | White Ash Lake -- Access | 9/27/2007 | 7/31/2024 | Map | Data |
| 2628600 | White Ash Lake | 10004781 | White Ash Lake | 4/24/1996 | 6/22/2023 | Map | Data |
| 2628600 | White Ash Lake | 493079 | White Ash Lake - Deep Hole | 7/8/1993 | 9/25/2024 | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
White Ash Lake is located in the Upper Apple River watershed which is 195.43 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (45.90%), agricultural (16.40%) and a mix of wetland (15.70%) and other uses (22.10%). This watershed has 138.62 stream miles, 7,663.43 lake acres and 16,247.07 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Medium for runoff impacts on streams, High 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.This water is ranked High Lake for individual Lakes based on runoff problems and the likelihood of success from project implementation.