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Contact information
For information on Wisconsin's natural communities, contact:
Ryan O'Connor
Natural Heritage Inventory Ecologist
608-354-2383

Lake--Deep, Hard, Seepage

State Rank: S2     Global Rank: GNR   what are these ranks?

Definition

General natural community overview

Counties shaded blue have documented occurrences for Lake--Deep, Hard, Seepage in the Wisconsin Natural Heritage Inventory database.

Lakes that are Large (>10 acres), Deep (> 18 feet), Hard (alkalinity > 50 ppm), and Seepage (have no inlet and outlet, and the main water source is from precipitation or runoff).

The macroalgaes muskgrass (Chara spp.) and stonewort (Nitella spp.) are frequent members of the submergent community of this lake type, with stoneworts often preferring deeper waters. Common aquatic vascular plants in undisturbed deep seepage lakes include naiads (Najas spp.) and a variety of pondweeds, including large-leaf pondweed (Potamogeton amplifolius), variable-leaf pondweed (P. gramineus), and flat-stem pondweed (P. zosteriformis). Where nutrient levels are high, water-milfoil (Myriophyllum spp.), coon-tail (Ceratophyllum demersum), and common waterweed (Elodea canadensis) are more abundant. Floating lilies (Nymphaea odorata and Nuphar variegata) often occur in shallow waters. Associated fish species include mimic shiner, blunt-nose minnow, rock bass, bluegill, pumpkinseed, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, black crappie, yellow perch, and cisco and mottled sculpin in very deep lakes.

Rare animals

Species of Greatest Conservation Need

Wisconsin Wildlife Action Plan graphic

The following Species of Greatest Conservation Need are listed according to their level of association with the Lake--Deep, Hard, Seepage natural community type, based on the findings in Wisconsin's 2015 Wildlife Action Plan.

Scores: 3 = high association, 2 = moderate association, and 1 = low association. See the key to association scores for complete definitions.

AmphibiansScore
Blanchard's Cricket FrogAcris blanchardi3
Mink FrogLithobates septentrionalis3
Pickerel FrogLithobates palustris2

BeetlesScore
A Crawling Water BeetleHaliplus apostolicus2

BirdsScore
Black TernChlidonias niger2
Common GoldeneyeBucephala clangula2
Purple MartinProgne subis2
Common TernSterna hirundo1
Forster's TernSterna forsteri1

Dragonflies and damselfliesScore
Alkali BluetEnallagma clausum3
Lake EmeraldSomatochlora cingulata3
Lilypad ForktailIschnura kellicotti3
Mottled DarnerAeshna clepsydra3
Pronghorn ClubtailGomphus graslinellus3
Slaty SkimmerLibellula incesta3
Spatterdock DarnerRhionaeschna mutata3
Unicorn ClubtailArigomphus villosipes3
Spangled SkimmerLibellula cyanea2
Double-striped BluetEnallagma basidens1

FishesScore
Lake ChubsuckerErimyzon sucetta2
Least DarterEtheostoma microperca2
Longear SunfishLepomis megalotis2
Pugnose ShinerNotropis anogenus2
Redfin ShinerLythrurus umbratilis1

MammalsScore
Big Brown BatEptesicus fuscus3
Little Brown BatMyotis lucifugus3
Northern Long-eared BatMyotis septentrionalis2
Silver-haired BatLasionycteris noctivagans2
Tricolored BatPerimyotis subflavus1
Water ShrewSorex palustris1

ReptilesScore
Blanding's TurtleEmydoidea blandingii3
Eastern RibbonsnakeThamnophis sauritus1

Please see Section 2. Approach and Methods of the Wildlife Action Plan to learn how this information was developed.

Rare plants

The Natural Heritage Inventory has developed scores indicating the degree to which each of Wisconsin's rare plant species is associated with a particular natural community or ecological landscape. This information is similar to that found in the Wildlife Action Plan for animals. As this is a work in progress, we welcome your suggestions and feedback.

Scores: 3 = "significantly associated," 2 = "moderately associated," and 1 = "minimally associated."
Scientific Name Common Name Score
Eleocharis quadrangulata Square-stem Spike-rush 1
Najas gracillima Thread-like Naiad 3
Potamogeton diversifolius Water-thread Pondweed 2
Schoenoplectus torreyi Torrey's Bulrush 2
Scirpus pallidus Pale Bulrush 2

Landscapes

The following Ecological Landscapes have the best opportunities to manage for Lake--Deep, Hard, Seepage, based on the Ecological Landscapes of Wisconsin Handbook.


Map of the Ecological Landscapes of Wisconsin.


Major (3 on map)
A major opportunity for sustaining the natural community in the Ecological Landscape exists, either because many significant occurrences of the natural community have been recorded in the landscape or major restoration activities are likely to be successful maintaining the community's composition, structure, and ecological function over a longer period of time.

Important (2 on map)
Although the natural community does not occur extensively or commonly in the Ecological Landscape, one to several occurrences do occur and are important in sustaining the community in the state. In some cases, important opportunities may exist because the natural community may be restricted to just one or a few Ecological Landscapes within the state and there may be a lack of opportunities elsewhere.

Present (1 on map)
The natural community occurs in the Ecological Landscape, but better management opportunities appear to exist in other parts of the state.

Threats/Actions

Wisconsin Wildlife Action Plan graphic

What are conservation actions?

Conservation actions respond to issues or threats, which adversely affect species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) or their habitats. Besides actions such as restoring wetlands or planting resilient tree species in northern communities, research, surveys and monitoring are also among conservation actions described in the WWAP because lack of information can threaten our ability to successfully preserve and care for natural resources.

Threats/issues and conservations actions for natural communities

Photos


Lake--Deep, Hard, Seepage Photos

Lake--Deep, Hard, Seepage Photo

Photo by Thomas Meyer.

Note: photos are provided to illustrate various examples of natural community types. A single photograph cannot represent the range of variability inherent in a given community type. Some of these photos explicitly illustrate unusual and distinctive community variants. The community photo galleries are a work in progress that we will expand and improve in the future.

Last revised: Tuesday, August 30, 2022