Racine
No
No
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Waubeesee Lake, in the Middle Fox River - Illinois Watershed, is a 139.21 acre lake that falls in Racine County. This lake is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently not considered impaired.
Date 2011
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Managed for bass and panfish. There has been some consideration given to introducing rainbow trout here; however, investigation revealed a consistently shallow thermocline unsuitable for cold water species. Access is difficult and only possible from a bridge over the inlet from Kec Nong Go Mong Lake. Only one establishment rents boats on the lake. About 75 percent of the frontage is developed, the remainder being lowland with little potential for development in its present state. A cement dam situated on the outlet to the Fox (Illinois) River maintains a 2 foot head. There are 31 acres of marshland contiguous with the lake shore.
Source: 1961, Surface Water Resources of Racine County Waubeesee Lake, Surface Acres = 132, S.D.F. = 1.70, Maximum Depth = 73 feet, (T-4-N, R-20-E, sec. 7, 8, 17, 18).
Date 1961
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
General Condition
Waubeesee Lake (WBIC 760900) was placed on the impaired waters list for total phosphorus in 2014 as a Two-Story Fishery Lake. Subsequently the lake has been reclassified by fisheries biologists as a Deep Headwater Lake, not Two-Story Fishery. This changed the TP criteria used. This lake 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
Impaired Waters
Waubeesee Lake (760900) was placed on the impaired waters list for total phosphorus in 2014. The 2016 assessments showed continued impairment by phosphorus; total phosphorus sample data exceed 2016 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Recreation use and Fish and Aquatic Life use, however chlorophyll data do not exceed REC or FAL 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
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 |
|---|
| 760900 | Waubeesee Lake | 10007844 | Waubeesee Lake | 6/1/1995 | 8/7/2024 | Map | Data |
| 760900 | Waubeesee Lake | 523117 | Waubeesee Lake - Deep Hole At Sth 20 2m (Bi) | 7/12/1989 | 10/21/2024 | Map | Data |
| 760900 | Waubeesee Lake | 523119 | Waubeesee Lake at Wind Lake WI | 7/28/1988 | 7/8/2023 | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Waubeesee Lake is located in the Middle Fox River - Illinois watershed which is 247.72 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (35.50%), suburban (19.20%) and a mix of wetland (16.20%) and other uses (29.10%). This watershed has 316.41 stream miles, 6,810.35 lake acres and 22,750.85 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked High for runoff impacts on streams, Medium 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.This water is ranked High Lake for individual Lakes based on runoff problems and the likelihood of success from project implementation.