A Watershed Study
GRANT RECIPIENT: TOWN of WASHINGTON, Water Resources Committee
GRANTOR: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
RESEARCH LEAD: United State Geological Survey, Dr. Dale Robertson
LIMNOLOGY CONSULTANT: Environmental Horizons, Inc., Dr. Jeffrey A. Thornton
TOWN COMMITTEE LAKE LIASON: Donna DePape
IN-KIND SUPPORT RESOURCE: Anvil Lake Association
TERM: 2010 - 2015
Anvil Lake, as a classical example of a seepage lake that topographically is positioned in
close proximity to a watershed divide, has been selectively chosen for this study. The lake
level has been impacted by recent years of drought. This grant seeks to specifically
understand the causes of the loss of lake depth, the consequences of the loss of lake depth
on the hydrological and limnological regime of the Lake, and the impacts of these changes
on the natural habitat and aesthetics of this waterbody. The information learned from these
studies are intended to be shared across similar Wisconsin lake communities.
The broad goal of the proposed project is to provide a comprehensive lake management plan
for Anvil Lake. Achievement of this ultimate objective is predicated upon the acquisition of
appropriate knowledge and information about the Lake and its hydrological budget and the
synthesis of existing knowledge and information to define necessary additional knowledge
required to develop a lake management plan. To this end, the objectives of the current
planning program are:
1. To install groundwater monitoring wells that will provide data on groundwater levels
and directions of flow;
2. To augment the current lake surface elevation record with more detailed lake surface
elevation observations using an automated lake surface elevation monitoring device;
3. To describe the existing conditions in the Anvil Lake watershed including identification
and quantification of potential point and non-point sources of pollution, nutrient and
contaminant inputs, and nutrient and contaminant balances to the extent that data
are available;
4. To install a local meteorological gauge to provide data on rainfall, wind and
temperature in the immediate vicinity of the Lake;
5. To identify the extent of any existing and potential future water quality problems
likely to be experienced in the Lake, including an assessment of the Lake’s water
quality using water quality monitoring data being collected as part of ongoing water
quality monitoring programs and estimates of changes in these conditions in the
future;
6. To assess the degree and intensity of recreational water use in and around Anvil Lake,
formulate appropriate management programs, including public information and
education strategies, organizational responses, and support other possible actions
necessary to identify problems and issues of concern.
7. Assimilate fisheries data.
8. Distribute and assess a watershed community survey.
Accomplishment of these goals will result in an understanding of the issues facing the Lake
and its watershed consistent with the objectives of Chapter NR 190, Wisconsin
Administrative Code. This planning program is part of an ongoing program of lake-related
management actions being undertaken by the Town of Washington and the residents of the
Anvil Lake watershed.
The Anvil Lake Association affirmed its support of this grant in a Letter of Support dated
April 23, 2011 and in a Letter of Agreement of the same date agreed to foster and support,
to the best of its ability, activities and programs that produce the following:
• Lake stage gauge elevation positioning
• Lake stage (ESRI) monitoring
• Ice in / ice out trend analyses
• Citizens Lake Monitoring Network products: water clarity, water temperature and
dissolved oxygen gradient measurements, and chlorophyll analyses
• Phytoplankton monitoring
• Aquatic macrophyte GIS surveys
• AIS monitoring
• Common loon (Gavia immer) habitat modulation and monitoring of production
• Watercraft rental equivalents
• Volunteers as needed (i.e.. core sampling, well positioning)
• Communication of grant activities & data to all residents of the waterbody via
newsletter publication and web site
• Web site management
• Track and record in-kind volunteer time, mileage, watercraft use, etc.
Town of Washington will provide:
• Provisions for meetings of watershed residents
• Provide services as needed to satisfy periodic grant payments
Fall 2013 UPDATE:
U.S.G.S. was granted a permit by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for installation
of a monitoring equipped buoy over the lake’s deep hole. Due to late 2013 ice out and
technical modifications, the installation has been delayed until ice out 2014. The highly
visible buoy will be securely anchored in place and a flashing light will signal its location.
Recording instruments above and below the water line will collect and transmit water
temperature and dissolved oxygen measurements from various depths, in addition to
meteorological data. This information will profile how the water parameters change in
response to environmental variation.
To avoid damage to the instrumentation, U.S.G.S. requests that people not touch the
buoy and avoid snagging a fishing line on the buoy, its anchor lines or instrumentation.
Should a fishing line snag the buoy in any way, the line should be cut, and the incident
reported to Donna DePape (715-617-1710) allowing U.S.G.S. to confirm no damage has
occurred.
Shallow water sediment cores were taken in early August 2013. A second deep water core
was taken in early September 2013. Results of the deep water core taken in 2012 are
expected in winter 2013.
Data including precipitation, lake height, wind speed and direction, solar radiation, air
temperature, relative humidity, and atmospheric water vapor pressure uplinked from
U.S.G.S. instrumentation is available at: