Conservation Security Program 2006
About the Lake DuBay Watershed

Description of Watershed

The large Lake DuBay Watershed is located in central to north central Wisconsin. Farms account for approximately 39.2% of the 1.72 million acre watershed. Dairy and beef production with some cash grain are the primary agricultural enterprises, with Marathon County being one of the top dairy counties in Wisconsin. Some of the largest livestock operations in the state are found here as well as a high concentration of intensive grazing dairy operations. Corn for silage and grain, alfalfa and soybeans are the predominant crops. Lake DuBay itself is a 6,700 acre impoundment fed by several rivers with the Wisconsin River being the largest.

Physical Description

The majority of the watershed is nearly level and gently sloping with moderately well and somewhat poorly drained loamy soils underlain by dense loamy glacial till, residuum and bedrock. Land use is mostly cropland and grazing land, with areas of mixed deciduous and coniferous forest, wetlands, and a few lakes.

Northern areas of the watershed are nearly level to moderately steep with loamy, sandy, and organic soils. Mixed deciduous and coniferous forest is the primary land use with some glacial lakes and wetlands. Scattered cropland and grazing land are present. Cropland productivity here is limited by the short length of the growing season.
 

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