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AUTHORS: Ryan Eastman, Justin Kowalski, Abbie Lee, Dr. Joshua Raabe, Dr. Kyle Herrman, Dr. William Fisher, Tommy Hill - University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
ABSTRACT: Wind Pudding Lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin experienced a considerable water level drop (8-10ft) between 2002 and 2010. This drop nearly eliminated the fish community in the western basin, which is shallower and does not seasonally stratify, so water quality was likely influenced more than in the deeper eastern basin. The water level began to rise between 2010 and 2013, and reached near pre-2002 levels in 2017. Fish were transported from the eastern basin to the western basin in 2014, but the success (e.g., survival, reproduction) of transfer or natural movements has not been evaluated and may be influenced by water quality. Therefore, our objectives were to determine if the fish community in the western basin is recovering and if the water quality in both basins can support thriving fish communities. We used fyke nets and minnow traps to evaluate species composition and abundance in 2016-2017, and fin clipped individuals to monitor potential movements between basins. To monitor water quality we installed a vertical array of temperature loggers, conducted vertical profiles with a multiparameter sensor, and analyzed nitrogen, phosphorus and chlorophyll concentrations. We sampled a variety of fish species (n=8) with some being relatively abundant in the western basin, and documented fish movement between the two basins, indicating successful recolonization of the western basin through the transfer or natural movements. Preliminary water quality results indicate both basins are meso-oligotrophic, and that the western basin experienced low dissolved oxygen levels (