The Fish Lake Wildlife Area(FLWA) is a tract of protected land located in Burnett County, Wisconsin, managed by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR).WDNR Website- Retrieved 2022-08-29 Lands to be included in the wildlife area were first purchased in 1945 with the goal of restoring the conditions of the general area to what was observed in 1850, right before the first human settlements reached the area. The FLWA is made up of three separate areas, the Fish Lake Habitat Management Area, the Fish Lake Pines State Natural Area and the Grettum Flowage Wildlife Refuge zone.
Fish Lake The lake for which the wildlife area is named has an area of and a maximum depth of . The lake is noted for being exceptionally clear in both the east and west basin, with water clarity, perception, and color all receiving the best possible grades.WDNR Fish Lake East Basin Lake Water Quality Report- Retrieved 2022-04-22WDNR Fish Lake West Basin Lake Water Quality Report- Retrieved 2022-04-22WDNR Fish Lake East Basin Narrative Report- Retrieved 2022-04-22WDNR Fish Lake West Basin Narrative Report- Retrieved 2022-04-22 Boat access to the lake is provided via a boat landing off of Pine Knoll Lane.WDNR Fish Lake Boat Access- Retrieved 2022-04-22
Land cover The first portion of land that was labelled as part of the FLWA had an area of and was seized as tax-delinquent land. The FLWA was included in the Glacial Lake Grantsburg property complex, which also includes the Amsterdam Sloughs Wildlife Area and the Crex Meadows Wildlife Area, and as such was subject to the long range goal of all three units being managed for waterfowl.
In 1975 the first master plan was approved for the wildlife area, which now had an area of , excluding the of private land that was considered within the boundaries of the wildlife area.
+ 1975 Cover Type AcreageWDNR Fish Lake Master Plan 1975- Retrieved 2022-08-19 Cover type Acres Percentage cover Aspen and white birch 1,136 8% Firebreaks 248 2% Grass and upland brush 1,385 10% Grass marsh 6,301 48% Oak 1,684 12% Open water 478 4% Pine 1,940 15% Swamp hardwoods 148 1% Total Acreage 13,240 100%
+ Current Cover Type AcreageGlacial Lake Grantsburg Properties Master Plan 2016- Retrieved 2022-08-19 Current cover type Acres Percentage Cover Aspen 981 7% Developed 10 <1% Field 100 <1% Grassland 1,063 8% Non-forested wetland 6,080 45% Oak 3,333 25% Swamp conifer 10 <1% Swamp hardwood 40 <1% Upland conifer 639 5% Upland hardwood 111 <1% Water 1,242 9% Total Acreage 13,609 100%
Flora and Fauna There are several different types of trees residing in the Wildlife Area, the most prominent being oak, maple, hemlock, and red pine. In addition to the varied flora, in both Swan Lake and the surrounding marshland, musky, Northern pike, largemouth bass, walleye and northern pike are commonly found. Besides sea dwelling fauna, black tern, turkey and shorebirds have been known to frequent the area.
See also Amsterdam Sloughs Wildlife Area Crex Meadows Wildlife Area
References
External links U.S. Geological Survey Map at the U.S. Geological Survey Map Website. Retrieved March 1, 2023. Surface Water Data Viewer Map at the WNDR Website. Retrieved April 22, 2022. Secchi Graph East at the WDNR Website. Retrieved 2022-04-22 Secchi Graph West at the WDNR Website. Retrieved 2022-04-22