Burnett
No
No
Yes
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Wood Lake, in the Wood River Watershed, is a 521.23 acre lake that falls in Burnett County. This lake is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently considered impaired.
Date 2015
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
A drainage lake located on the Wood River, this lake has an active lake association and a seifhelp
volunteer monitoring water clarity since 1986. Wood Lake shows some signs of trophic
stress and experiences algae blooms and excessive weed growth.
This lake group should be encouraged to pursue a lakes planning grant to assess the nutrient
budget for this lake and establish if there are any protection or restorative measures that could
be taken to help Wood Lake. Implementation measures would be dependent upon the results
of the feasibility study.
Date 1992
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
Historical Description
Source: 1966, Surface Water Resources of Burnett County Wood Lake, T38N, R18W, Sections 26, 27, 28, 34 Surface Acres = 508.3, Maximum Depth = 35 feet, M.P.A.=103 ppm, Secchi Disk= 5 feet A hard water, drainage lake located on the Wood River. Outlet flow is approximately 29.0 cubic feet per second. An intermittent inlet comes in at the south end from Peterson and Spirit Lakes. Fish species present include northern pike, largemouth bass, bluegill, black crappie, pumpkinseed, perch, bullhead,carp, white sucker and bowfin. The presence of carp creates a management problem. Private development consists of two resorts, 133 cottages and homes and two private camps. Thoreson Park, a V.F.W. park at the north end of the lake, provides boat launching, swimming and picnicking facilities. There is 1.32 miles of public frontage which includes the park, two undeveloped platted accesses and state-owned island frontage on six islands. Sixty-two acres of adjoining wetlands provide habitat for muskrats and nesting puddle ducks. Large numbers of geese and diving ducks also use the lake.
Date 1966
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
Impaired Waters
Wood Lake was recently evaluated during the ten-year period of 2009 through 2018 for results that were reported to the USEPA for the 2020 Clean Water Act condition report. The waterbody is considered impaired, or in poor condition for designated uses which include the quality of fish and aquatic life, recreational use, and public health and welfare (fish consumption and related). Pollutants or problems encountered during sampling (impairments) are determined based on water quality standards outlined in Wisconsin 2020 Consolidated Assessment and Listing Methodology (WisCALM). Assessment results show water conditions that are potentially harmful for Aquatic Life use due to values for total phosphorus and chlorophyll that fall into the range expected for an aquatic community in poor health, therefore this water is listed as impaired. The lake was changed to category 5W in 2020 because it is part of the Implementation Plan for the Lake St. Croix Nutrient Total Maximum Daily Load (2025).
Assessment results during the 2020 listing cycle show total phosphorus and chlorophyll levels too high for healthy aquatic communities like plants, fish, and bugs, according to 2020 WisCALM standards for Recreation and Aquatic Life uses. Based on the most updated information, the impairment of eutrophication and pollutant total phosphorus were added to the impaired waters listing.
Date 2019
Author Ashley Beranek
Impaired Waters
Wood Lake (WBIC 2649800) was placed on the impaired waters list for excess algal growth in 2014. The 2018 assessments showed continued excess algal growth; chlorophyll-a sample data clearly exceeded the Recreation use thresholds, and clearly met the Fish and Aquatic Life use thresholds. Total phosphorus sample data were nearly below the use thresholds. This water was not meeting its designated uses and was considered impaired. No listing change was needed to the existing impaired waters listing.
Date 2017
Author Ashley Beranek
Impaired Waters
Wood Lake (2649800) was placed on the impaired waters list for excess algal growth in 2014. The 2016 assessments showed continued excess algal growth; chlorophyll sample data exceed 2016 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Recreation use, however, total phosphorus did not exceed REC thresholds. Total phosphorus and chlorophyll data were clearly below Fish and Aquatic Life listing 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
Nine Key Element Plan
Big Wood Lake PWS Plan - Nine Key Element Plan - This plan assesses the nonpoint sources of pollution in the Big Wood Lake Watershed and guides the implementation of nonpoint source control measures. These control measures are needed to meet specific water resource objectives for Big Wood Lake and its tributaries.
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 |
|---|
| 2649800 | Wood Lake | 073044 | Wood Lake (Big) - North Basin-Site 1 | 3/26/1987 | 8/26/2024 | Map | Data |
| 2649800 | Wood Lake | 10018121 | Wood Lake -- Access at W Side Of Lake Off Shore Dr | 9/5/2005 | 8/27/2024 | Map | Data |
| 2649800 | Wood Lake | 073045 | Wood Lake (Big) - South Basin-Site 2 | 6/27/1986 | 7/22/2018 | Map | Data |
| 2649800 | Wood Lake | 10020409 | Wood Lake -- Ramp - Off Akermark Rd | 6/1/2008 | 8/18/2023 | Map | Data |
| 2649800 | Wood Lake | 10001891 | Wood Lake | 10/3/1994 | 9/30/2020 | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Wood Lake is located in the Wood River watershed which is 220.24 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (50.60%), wetland (25.10%) and a mix of grassland (11.10%) and other uses (13.40%). This watershed has 197.60 stream miles, 5,461.36 lake acres and 34,321.60 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.This water is ranked High Lake for individual Lakes based on runoff problems and the likelihood of success from project implementation.