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Lake Irving

"Lake Irving is a 419 acre lake located in Vilas County. It has a maximum depth of 8 feet. Visitors have access to the lake from a public boat landing. Fish include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass and Walleye. The lake's water clarity is low." [From the DNR Website, 2010.] Additional information from the DNR site: Bottom: 40% sand, 10% gravel, 5% rock, 45% muck. Hydrologic Lake Type: DRAINAGE. Latitude, Longitude: 46.06131630, -89.47367380. Fish: Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass and Walleye. Trophic Status: Eutrophic.

There is one boat landing on the lake, shared with Ballard Lake. Access is from the Camp Two Road where it crosses the Ballard-Irving Thoroughfare. From that point a boat may travel either to Ballard or Irving Lake.

Lake Irving is a traditional Native American source for wild rice. The Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission tracks the health of the rice on the lake and acts to improve it as possible. See notes about wild rice under the Miscellany tab.

Charles P. Forbes
June 10, 2001

**** indicates no known author.

Major References

Bokern, James. Canoe Routes of the Chippewa. [M.S. Thesis] Stevens Point, 1987. View Full Entry (Full text available)
David, Peter. Manoomin (Wild Rice) Enhancement and Research in the Ceded Territories in 1998. [GLIFWC Administrative Report 10-09 July 2010] Odanah, 2010. View Full Entry (Full text available)
Great Lakes Indian Fish & Wildlife Commission. Rice Abundance Information for Manoomin Waters. [GLIFWC webpage, not permanent. Downloaded August 30, 2018.] Odanah, 2018. View Full Entry (Full text available)
Jackson and Warye. St. Germain, Sayner and Star Lake etc.. Presque Isle, WI, 2004. View Full Entry
McComas, Steve. White Birch-Ballard-Irving Lakes Vilas County, Wisconsin, Lake Management Plan. Star Lake, 2000. View Full Entry
Nowood, et al.. Report of a Geological Survey of Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota. Philadelphia, 1852. View Full Entry
Owen, David Dale and Joseph G.Norwood. Report of a Geological Survey of Wisconsin, Iowa, and Minnesota. Philadelphia, 1852. View Full Entry

Minor References

Fayram & Treska. Evaluation of the Efficacy of a 14-18 Inch Slot Limit for Walleyes in Northern W. [Research Report # 190, March 2010] Madison, 2010. View Full Entry (Full text available)
Malmgren, Carol. History of White Birch Village. [Ballard-Irving-White Birch Lakes Assn, Summer 2020 Newsletter, P. 6] Star Lake, 2020. View Full Entry (Full text available)
Wisconsin DNR. Vilas County Lakes Directory. [From Wisconsin Lakes, Wis. DNR PUB-FH-800 2001] Eagle River, 2002. View Full Entry

WILD RICE SEEDING

In 1998 GLIFWC reported the following wild rice seeding activity GLIFWC Admin Rpt 10-09 July 2010:

Name: Berkhahn Flowage, Mead Wildlife Area
Location: South-Central Marathon County
Cooperator: WDNR
Seed Source: Irving Lake, Vilas County (93 pounds); Lake Alice, Lincoln County (58 pounds); Spider Creek Flowage, Langlade County (52 pounds), Big Lake Thoroughfare (20 pounds)

Summary: 223 pounds of seed purchased by GLIFWC with WDNR and COF funds was seeded on this flowage by the WDNR in the second consecutive seeding effort.

WILD RICE 2017

GLIFWC reported in August, 2017, that the wild rice outlook for Lake Irving was poor for this season--in keeping with predictions about much of Vilas and Oneida counties, and following similar patterns in 2016. Irving will be closed for ricing in 2017.

WILD RICE 2018

GLIFWC reported a wild rice crop failure on Lake Irving in 2018. The lake was closed for ricing in 2018 GLIFWC Webpage

WILD RICE 2019 and 2020

DNR emails announced the Irving would be closed to ricing in 2019 and 2020.

AIS BOAT INSPECTIONS

The DNR website provides this data for Irving Lake:

Years: 2007 / 2008 / 2009 / 2010 / 2011

Boats Inspected: 37 / - / 3 / 22 / 146

People Talked to: 87 / - / 27 / 47 / 285

Manhours used: 8 / - / 2 / 4 / 97

Refer to the link "AIS Boat Inspections"