Pelican Lake (Oneida County, Wisconsin) Explained

Pelican Lake
Location:Oneida County, Wisconsin
Coords:45.5041°N -89.2035°W
Type:Drainage
Outflow:Pelican River
Catchment:Pelican River Watershed, Upper Wisconsin Basin
Basin Countries:United States
Area:3585acres
Max-Depth:39feet
Volume:2.175e9cuft[1]
Shore:13miles
Elevation:1591feet
Pushpin Map:Wisconsin#USA
Pushpin Map Alt:Location of Pelican Lake in Wisconsin, USA.

Pelican Lake is a 3585adj=onNaNadj=on lake located in Oneida County in Wisconsin. It has a maximum depth of 39feet. Visitors have access to the lake from five public boat landings. A dam is located on the lake's primary outlet, which feeds into the Pelican River. Pelican Lake serves as one of 21 reservoirs used to regulate and maintain optimal water flow on the Wisconsin and Tomahawk rivers, the process of which is facilitated in part by the Wisconsin Valley Improvement Company.[2] [3]

Fish inhabiting the lake include muskie, panfish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, northern pike and walleye. The lake's water clarity has historically been low, and its bottom composition is 40% sand, 20% gravel, 10% rock, 30% muck. The lake is eutrophic. Several invasive species are or have been found in the lake, including banded mystery snail, Chinese mystery snail, curly-leaf pondweed, Eurasian water-milfoil, purple loosestrife, and rusty crayfish.[4]

Pelican Lake was named for the American white pelicans seen there.[5] In the Ojibwe language, the lake goes by either Zhede-zaaga'igan (pelican lake) or more commonly as Gaa-wabaataawangaag-zaaga'igan (place where there is a sandy narrows lake).

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Wisconsin River Reservoir System Summary - Gross Storage. Wisconsin River Improvement Company. 4 April 2013.
  2. Web site: LPL-582 - Lakes Planning Report Document, Page 36. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources - Official Website. North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission. 4 April 2013.
  3. Web site: Reservoirs. Wisconsin Valley Improvement Company. 4 April 2013.
  4. Web site: Pelican Lake - Facts & Figures. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. 4 April 2013.
  5. Book: Chicago and North Western Railway Company. A History of the Origin of the Place Names Connected with the Chicago & North Western and Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railways. 1908. 112.