Portage
No
No
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Rinehart Lake, in the South Branch Little Wolf River Watershed, is a 42.86 acre lake that falls in Portage County. This lake is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently not considered impaired.
Date 2011
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Source: 1972, Surface Water Resources of Portage County Rinehart Lake, T24N, R10E, Sections 27, 34, Surface Acres-41.6, S.D.F.-1.38, Maximum Depth-25 feet.
A clear, hard water lake three miles northeast of Nelsonville. The lake has no inlets while an intermittent outlet flows only during peak runoff periods. Marl is the primary bottom material with sand, gravel, and muck also present. A midsummer thermocline develops around thirteen feet. The lake supports a fishery composed of northern pike, walleye, perch, largemouth bass, bluegill, black crappie, pumpkinseed, warmouth and green sunfish. Deer, muskrats, many birds, and migrating waterfowl frequent the area. Developments consist of twenty-seven cottages plus several more platted lots. The west and most of the north shores are undeveloped and very scenic. A public access with gravel boat launch ramp and a small parking area is present on the south side. The only swimming areas present are private. Fishing and swimming are the greatest uses of this lake.
Date 1972
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
General Condition
Rinehart Lake (WBIC 278600) was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; new total phosphorus and chlorophyll-a sample data were clearly below the 2018 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Recreation use and the Fish and Aquatic Life use. This water was meeting these designated uses and was not considered impaired.
Date 2017
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 |
|---|
| 278600 | Rinehart Lake | 10005129 | Rinehart Lake | 4/22/1993 | 6/19/2019 | Map | Data |
| 278600 | Rinehart Lake | 503134 | Rinehart Lake at Deepest Point | 4/25/1993 | 7/20/2024 | Map | Data |
| 278600 | Rinehart Lake | 10043614 | Rinehart Lake Station Gage | | | Map | Data |
| 278600 | Rinehart Lake | 10044271 | Rhinehart Lake - Monitoring Well | 9/17/2015 | 10/28/2024 | Map | Data |
| 278600 | Rinehart Lake | 10017461 | Rinehart Lake -- Access | 7/9/2009 | 6/19/2019 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Rinehart Lake is located in the South Branch Little Wolf River watershed which is 160.29 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (42.40%), agricultural (23%) and a mix of wetland (18.40%) and other uses (16.10%). This watershed has 166.00 stream miles, 2,070.64 lake acres and 19,091.22 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Low 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.