Marinette
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Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Lake Noquebay is a 2,406-acre drainage lake located in Marinette County, Wisconsin. Its 86,000 acre watershed encompasses a major portion of the 99,567 acres in the Middle Inlet and Lake Noquebay Watershed. There has been a significant amount of water quality data accumulated and studied over the past 30 years to help direct management decisions in the Lake Noquebay Watershed and water body. During the process of developing a Comprehensive Lake Management Plan/Aquatic Plant Management Plan which was completed in October 2009 by the Marinette County LWCD for the Lake District, the long-term trend in water quality was examined. The water quality is generally good.
The trophic state index (TSI) trends for the past 30 years used to determine a lake’s nutrient enrichment status showed an improvement in water clarity and chlorophyll a (an indication of algae growth in the water) through the years. However, the total phosphorus trend in the lake has been slightly upward which needs to be investigated to determine the reason. This phosphorus trend is occurring despite a successful Lake Noquebay Priority Watershed Project completed in 2006. The 2009 Comprehensive Plan recommends maintaining summer total phosphorus concentrations in Lake Noquebay below 25 ug/l to prevent potential deterioration in the current water quality and lake ecosystem.
The major tributaries contributing nutrients to Lake Noquebay are the Smith Creek, Lower Middle Inlet, Upper Middle Inlet and Middle Inlet streams and their sub-watersheds. These waterbodies are all cold water trout streams located in the northern and western areas of the watershed.
Date 2011
Author Gregory Sevener
Historical Description
Lake Noquebay is a hard water drainage lake having slightly alkaline, light brown water of moderate transparency. The littoral zone is 70 percent sand, 25 percent muck and 5 percent gravel. The lake has three inlets, Middle Inlet, Upper Inlet and Lower Middle Inlet. The outlet flows to the Peshtigo River. The fish population consists of walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, perch, bluegill, black crappie, rock bass, pumpkinseed, bullhead, brook trout, brown trout, white sucker, longnose gar, bowfin and several species of minnows. Waterfowl make moderate use of this lake during their spring and fall migrations. A state wildlife marsh on Upper Inlet provides a nesting area for puddle ducks. The lake had a persistent problem with macrophytic vegetation in recent years, principally due to several species of water millfoil. Water level drawdowns in winter have been used as a method to control the vegetation as well as to reduce ice drainage to shore areas. However, these attempts have only met with partial success. Other aspects of the problem must also be dealt with, such as increasing development of the lake shoreline and consequent increase in nutrient input. A public park and boat landing with parking provide for public access. One public campground, twelve resorts and 268 dwellings are located on the shoreline. The dam, maintained by the Lake Noquebay Improvement Association, has a head of 2 feet.
Source: 1975, Surface Water Resources of Marinette County Noquebay Lake, T32N, R21E, Section 8 Surface Acres-2,162.0, Secchi Disk-6 feet, Maximum Depth-54 feet.
Date 1975
Author Aquatic Biologist
Recommendations
Lake Management Plan Implementation
(1) Continue to conduct water quality sampling and analyses in 1996, 1998, and 2000 to determine any trends in Lake Noquebay. (2) Conduct an aquatic macrophyte survey; prepare a report and map. (3) Produce an educational video covering aquatic macrophyte communities, the harvesting program, lake front property management, and watershed management. (4) Prepare a final report addressing the results of the above tasks. (5) Disseminate information on the project results to the public by public meeting, newsletter, video program, local newspaper article, and poster display.
Nine Key Element Plan
Lake Noquebay PWS Plan - Nine Key Element Plan - The primary objectives of this project are to reduce nonpoint source pollution loads to Lake Noquebay and the surrounding lakes and streams to enhance and protect water quality Agricultural sources of nonpoint pollution include eroding agricultural lands and stream banks, field application of manure, fertilizers and pesticides and runoff from livestock wastes. Urban sources of pollution include storm sewers, roads and road ditches and riparian development.
Monitor Invasive Species
Control or strive to contain AIS infestations in water bodies that have been determined to be detrimental according to NR40. Identify the populations, establish a target level, and reduce them to that level if feasible.
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 |
|---|
| 525900 | Lake Noquebay | 383125 | Lake Noquebay - Deep Hole | 1/30/1975 | 6/18/2023 | Map | Data |
| 525900 | Lake Noquebay | 10058222 | Lake Noquebay Upper Inlet | 9/11/2023 | 9/22/2023 | Map | Data |
| 530100 | Upper Inlet | 10058222 | Lake Noquebay Upper Inlet | 9/11/2023 | 9/22/2023 | Map | Data |
| 525900 | Lake Noquebay | 383124 | Smith Creek | 1/30/1975 | 6/10/1993 | Map | Data |
| 525900 | Lake Noquebay | 383293 | Lake Noquebay - North Of Outlet | | | Map | Data |
| 525900 | Lake Noquebay | 384017 | Noquebay Lake - Noquebay Lake | 7/31/1979 | 7/31/1979 | Map | Data |
| 525900 | Lake Noquebay | 10018984 | Lake Noquebay -- Access - Nr Boat Launch Rd | 7/4/2003 | 5/23/2023 | Map | Data |
| 525900 | Lake Noquebay | 383286 | Lake Noquebay -- South Side Boat Ramp | 6/29/2008 | 8/26/2023 | Map | Data |
| 525900 | Lake Noquebay | 10057035 | Lake Noquebay offshore of Swimming Beach | 11/8/2022 | 11/8/2022 | Map | Data |
| 525900 | Lake Noquebay | 10018343 | Lake Noquebay -- Access - Nr Upper Inlet Nr Pines Ln | 7/20/2011 | 5/23/2023 | Map | Data |
| 525900 | Lake Noquebay | 10019990 | Lake Noquebay -- Access at The End Of Pines Rd | 7/30/2010 | 7/30/2010 | Map | Data |
| 525900 | Lake Noquebay | 10045481 | Phragmites Occurrence - Lake Noquebay | 7/15/2015 | 9/30/2017 | Map | Data |
| 5526291 | Unnamed | 10058222 | Lake Noquebay Upper Inlet | 9/11/2023 | 9/22/2023 | Map | Data |
| 525900 | Lake Noquebay | 383227 | Lake Noquebay - East End Near Crivitz WI | 5/2/2000 | 11/8/2022 | Map | Data |
| 525900 | Lake Noquebay | 10018976 | Lake Noquebay -- Access - Nr Elinor Dr | 7/19/2008 | 6/8/2021 | Map | Data |
| 525900 | Lake Noquebay | 10003647 | Lake Noquebay | 4/20/1993 | 8/29/2017 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Lake Noquebay is located in the Middle Inlet and Lake Noquebay watershed which is 155.58 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (45%), wetland (34.60%) and a mix of agricultural (8.80%) and other uses (11.50%). This watershed has 145.85 stream miles, 3,254.49 lake acres and 28,278.00 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Not Ranked for runoff impacts on streams, High for runoff impacts on lakes and Medium for runoff impacts on groundwater and therefore has an overall rank of Medium. 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.