Our beautiful lakes have sustained us for many years with high water quality that enables abundant recreational opportunities, high quality fisheries, aesthetic value, and prolific wildlife. Our goal is to share this legacy as a gift to our children, their children and future generations to come. However, with rapid growth and development, increasing traffic, and lake use by more people more often, our lakes are under more stress than ever.

HOW ARE THE LAKES DOING?

Lake Kawaguesaga is now listed by the Wisconsin DNR as Impaired/Poor because of high levels of total phosphorus, andfor fish and aquatic life. A “Poor” rating means a waterway that fails to meet the WDNR water quality criteria for supporting a healthy aquatic community. So, we have work to do to reduce total phosphorous levels in Kawaguesaga.

Lake Minocqua was listed by the WDNR as Impaired/Poor for high total phosphorus levels from 2014 to 2024, but was taken off the impaired list because it looked like the condition was improving. The watershed is heavily forested, obviously with some development near the lake. The chlorophyll-a values improved, and the aquatic plant community appeared to be in good condition in 2022, which helped lead to changing the rating in 2024. So, we’ve shown we can help keep the phosphorus levels in check.

LINK: https://apps.dnr.wi.gov/water/waterSearch.aspx