Waukesha
No
No
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Rock River Water Quality Management Plan, Lower Rock River Appendix. WT-668-2002. South Central Region, WDNR.
Pretty Lake is a landlocked lake just west of the interlobate moraine in Waukesha County. The lake has had a good warm water sport fishery and high recreational use. The entire shoreline is heavily developed with homes and cottages. Water quality is generally good. Nearby wetlands have been ditched and drained, which may be affecting water quality. A potential for failing septic systems exists, adding to water quality problems. Fluctuating water levels are also a problem and the lake is regularly pumped to maintain lake levels. Septic systems around the lake have been replaced with mound systems. The U.S. Geological Survey conducted modeling of the lake's groundwater-driven system to determine what actions to take to maintain the system's functional values, while preventing septic flooding and nutrient contamination of the lake. The Lake District pays for the pumping and has received a high capacity well permit from the state.
Date 2002
Author Aquatic Biologist
General Condition
Pretty Lake (779300) was assessed during the 2016 listing cycle; total phosphorus and chlorophyll sample data were clearly below 2016 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Recreation use and Fish and Aquatic Life use. This water is meeting these designated uses and is not considered impaired.
Date 2015
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 |
|---|
| 779300 | Pretty Lake | 684001 | Pretty Lake - Pretty Lake | 9/5/1979 | 9/7/1979 | Map | Data |
| 779300 | Pretty Lake | 683325 | Pretty Lake - Deep Hole Near Dousman WI | 7/15/1989 | 9/4/2024 | Map | Data |
| 779300 | Pretty Lake | 10007213 | Pretty Lake | 2/1/1980 | 7/25/2019 | Map | Data |
| 779300 | Pretty Lake | 10017602 | Pretty Lake -- Access | 6/13/2009 | 9/26/2024 | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Pretty Lake is located in the Bark River watershed which is 185.84 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily agricultural (29.90%), wetland (22.40%) and a mix of forest (15.20%) and other uses (32.50%). This watershed has 265.69 stream miles, 3,499.26 lake acres and 22,145.94 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Medium 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.