Vilas
No
Yes
Yes
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Twin Lakes, in the Tamarack Pioneer River Watershed, is a 2,870.95 acre lake that falls in Vilas County. This lake is an outstanding/exceptional resource water under NR102 under the Fisheries Program. This lake is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently not considered impaired.
Date 2011
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Source: 1963, Surface Water Resources of Vilas County Twin (North) Lake, T-41-N, R-11-E, Sections 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 16, 17, and 18, Area = 2,782 Surface Acres, Maximum Depth = 45 feet.
North Twin Lake is a drainage lake of high fertility, having clear, slightly alkaline water of moderate transparency. The bottom materials consist mainly of sand, with rock and gravel. Both the inlet and outlet streams are considered navigable. The lake is used for water storage with a summertime allowable fluctuation of 1 foot-8 inches. A dam 4 feet high maintains the level. The muskellunge, walleye, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, and pan fish are the principal fish species present. An excellent cisco population is also found in this lake and brook trout are also present. Public access is possible by the means of town and state roads which also offer parking facilities. Access is also possible by navigating either the inlet or outlet streams. Public use facilities consist of 15 resorts and five boat rentalestablishments. There are 135 cottages located on the shore line.
Date 1963
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
Impaired Waters
Twin Lakes (WBIC 1623800) was placed on the impaired waters list for total phosphorus in 2016. The 2018 assessments showed continued impairment by phosphorus; new total phosphorus sample data exceeded 2018 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Recreation use and Fish and Aquatic Life use; however, chlorophyll data did not exceed the Recreation or Fish and Aquatic Life use thresholds. Based on the most updated information, no change in the existing impaired waters listing was needed.
Date 2017
Author Ashley Beranek
Impaired Waters
Twin Lakes (WBIC 1623800) was assessed during the 2016 listing cycle; 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.
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 |
|---|
| 1623800 | Twin Lakes (North) | 10005978 | North Twin Lake | 8/24/1988 | 9/30/2017 | Map | Data |
| 1623800 | Twin Lakes (North) | 643140 | North Twin Lake - Deep Hole | 8/8/1973 | 9/23/2020 | Map | Data |
| 1623800 | Twin Lakes (North) | 643429 | North Twin Lake - Site 1-Mid / North Central Part Of Lake - Deep Hole | 6/21/1993 | 9/1/2020 | Map | Data |
| 1623800 | Twin Lakes (North) | 10052464 | North Twin Lake - NT8 | | | Map | Data |
| 1623800 | Twin Lakes (North) | 10038766 | North Twin Lake Private Landing at 3326 Hwy 17 | 10/3/2012 | 10/3/2012 | Map | Data |
| 1623800 | Twin Lakes (North) | 10048315 | North Twin Lake - Herbicide Monitoring Site NT1 | 5/23/2017 | 5/26/2017 | Map | Data |
| 1623800 | Twin Lakes (North) | 643435 | North Twin Lake - Site 3-NE Basin | 5/30/1996 | 9/3/2018 | Map | Data |
| 1623800 | Twin Lakes (North) | 643440 | North Twin Lake - 180 Ft West Of Military Creek Mouth | 10/10/1995 | 10/10/1995 | Map | Data |
| 1623800 | Twin Lakes (North) | 644067 | North Twin Lake - North Twin Lake | 8/22/1979 | 8/22/1979 | Map | Data |
| 1623800 | Twin Lakes (North) | 10046935 | Twin Lakes - North Twin Lake - Phelps Pier at Hwy 17 Curve | 5/26/2015 | 8/25/2019 | Map | Data |
| 1623800 | Twin Lakes (North) | 10053821 | North Twin Lake - Herbicide Monitoring Site NT1 | | | Map | Data |
| 1623800 | Twin Lakes (North) | 643430 | North Twin Lake - Site 2-SW Basin | 6/21/1993 | 9/23/2020 | Map | Data |
| 1623800 | Twin Lakes (North) | 10021411 | North Twin/South Twin Treaty Chain | | | Map | Data |
| 1623800 | Twin Lakes (North) | 10018728 | North Twin Lake -- Access at Near State Hwy 17 | 5/30/2005 | 8/20/2020 | Map | Data |
| 1623500 | Twin River | 10043790 | Twin Lakes Chain | | | Map | Data |
| 1623800 | Twin Lakes (North) | 10048318 | North Twin Lake - Herbicide Monitoring Site NT4 | 5/23/2017 | 5/26/2017 | Map | Data |
| 1623800 | Twin Lakes (North) | 10052463 | North Twin Lake - NT7 | | | Map | Data |
| 1623800 | Twin Lakes (North) | 10052465 | North Twin Lake - NT9 | | | Map | Data |
| 1623800 | Twin Lakes (North) | 10052466 | North Twin Lake - NT10 | | | Map | Data |
| 1623700 | Twin Lakes (South) | 10043790 | Twin Lakes Chain | | | Map | Data |
| 1623800 | Twin Lakes (North) | 10018820 | North Twin Lake -- Access Nr Lakota Rd | 8/17/2006 | 8/26/2020 | Map | Data |
| 1623800 | Twin Lakes (North) | 10048316 | North Twin Lake - Herbicide Monitoring Site NT2 | 5/23/2017 | 5/26/2017 | Map | Data |
| 1623800 | Twin Lakes (North) | 10048317 | North Twin Lake - Herbicide Monitoring Site NT3 | 5/23/2017 | 5/26/2017 | Map | Data |
| 1623800 | Twin Lakes (North) | 10048320 | North Twin Lake - Herbicide Monitoring Site NT6 | 5/23/2017 | 5/26/2017 | Map | Data |
| 1623800 | Twin Lakes (North) | 10053822 | North Twin Lake - Herbicide Monitoring Site NT 2 | | | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Twin Lakes (North) is located in the Tamarack Pioneer River watershed which is 209.26 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (69.20%), wetland (18.50%) and a mix of open (10%) and other uses (2.30%). This watershed has 183.22 stream miles, 14,006.68 lake acres and 23,826.05 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Low for runoff impacts on streams, Medium for runoff impacts on lakes and Low for runoff impacts on groundwater and therefore has an overall rank of Low. 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.