Lake Arbutus Grant 2005-2006

Findings to Date –August 2006

Presentation Agenda

Grant Objectives

Results to Date

Next Steps

Lake Arbutus Planning Grant -2005

To sustain and improve the quality of Lake Arbutus for all

To collect information that can be used to better understand the lake as a basis for future management decisions

Lake Arbutus Planning Grant -2005

Co-applicants

Lake Arbutus Association (qualified)

Hatfield Sportsman’s Club

Lake Arbutus Planning Grant -2005

Issues addressed in the grant proposal

Defining current conditions

Improved understanding of water quality

Potential fishery improvement

Definition of stakeholder concerns

Lake user education

Lake Arbutus Mapping

●Accurate mapping of the lake forms the basis for understanding the physical and social setting of the lake

●In progress by UW-Eau Claire

Shoreline Ownership

16.5 miles of shoreline

70 percent private

24 percent county and state

6 percent North American Hydro

Increased development

1969 –5.8 homes/mile

mid-2006 –16.4 homes/mile ~3-fold increase

Stakeholder survey found 37% full-time residents

Lake Arbutus Home Development

Lake Arbutus Home Development

Lake Arbutus Home Development

How do you describe the shoreline?

What is your preference for the shoreline?

Lake Arbutus Water Quality

Current Water Quality Investigations

Black River & East Fork flow into lake

Continued suspended sediment sampling in the Black River and tributaries

Vertical oxygen and temperature profiles, phosphorous and chlorophyll in the lake

Average Flow in the Black River

Minimum Flow in the Black River

Daily Flow Variability –Black River

Sediment Transport to Lake Arbutus

Historical Data

USGS: 300 to 1,000 tons per day for “typical high flow rates”and <1 ton per day for low flow rates

1960’s estimate of ~50,000 tons per year entering surface waters in the basin

much of which entered Lake Arbutus

Suspended Sediment –Black River

Lake Arbutus Clarity

Survey Perceptions -Clarity

Phosphorus in Lake Arbutus

Historical data –1990’s

21 samples average 0.203 mg/L

2005 Grant

Surface water 0.083 to 0.163 mg/L

2 to 6 times higher in deep water

WI average = 0.065 mg/L

Recommendation for lakes < 0.015 mg/L

Lake Arbutus 6 to 11 times above recommended and average Wisconsin levels

Quality Changes with Depth

Quality Changes with Time

Lake Arbutus Planning Grant -2005

Historical Water Quality –Sediment Record

Historical changes since lake created

Sediment core from the lake bottom

Analyses for

Dating sediment

Planktonicfossils

Phosphorous, nitrogen, organic matter, trace metals

In progress at UW, State Lab of Hygiene, and UW Plant and Soil Lab

How do you describe lake quality?

What is the perceived trend in quality?

Lake Arbutus Fishery

Historical Actions

Stocking 1909 –1999

Rough-fish removal 1940 –on-going

Habitat improvement 1960 –1997 (>100 cribs placed)

Surveys 1952–2000 (total of 22)

2000 WDNR Fishery Survey

Catch per Unit Effort

Fish per Acre

Carp

35 to 86

----

Waleye

36.3

0.6 to 2.4

Smallmouth Bass

6.9

3.

Pan Fish

6.0

----

Largemouth Bass

1.3

0.4

Muskellunge

0.6

0.1

Northern Pike

0.5

0.1

What is your perception of fishery quality?

What is the trend in fishery quality?

Lake Arbutus Fishery

Fish Habitat

Determine whether shoreline trees create improved habitat for fish

Trees placed by WDNR on east side of lake, between Jackson County Park and East Fork bay

Fish surveys by WDNR in 2005, 2006, 2007, and 2008

Stakeholder Survey -2005

146 responses from property owners

(37% are full-time residents)

Campground users’lack of response

What is important to you?

How do you use the lake?

What is most important to you?

Stakeholder Watercraft

What is your perception of watercraft use?

What is your perception of operator behavior?

How would you like to see the lake managed?

Who manages and who pays?

Grant Report

Introduction

Projects and Investigation

Setting

Shoreline

Water Quality

Fishery

Survey

Views for Tomorrow

5-Year Vision Statement

10-Year Vision Statement

Recommendations for Actions

Where do we go from here?

Views for tomorrow

Meeting(s) of interested persons

Signup!

Advance information distribution

Draft document distribution and revision

Comprehensive Report

A draft report will be prepared in late 2006