Data sources
Data release 2026-10-24-3, built Oct 24, 2026. Facts only, in our own words: no DNR text, photos or maps are copied.
| Source | Used for | Terms in short | Credit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources: lake classifications, stocking summary, regulations layer, boat access sites, 24K hydrography | Lake size, depth and type; stocking history; the link to official regulations; boat landings; lake outlines | Informational use. Facts only, in our own words; regulations are linked, not restated. | Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources |
| Wisconsin DNR: fish consumption advisory areas, VHS watershed status, shore fishing sites, lake maps list, Landsat summer water clarity (2016, 2017) | A flag that the DNR has fish advice for a water (the advice itself is only linked); the VHS status of the watershed of a lake; shore fishing sites; links to depth map PDFs; a labeled satellite clarity estimate for lakes with no measured clarity | Informational use. Facts only; advice and rules are linked, not restated. Satellite values are estimates from two summers. | Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources |
| Water Quality Portal (EPA, USGS, NWQMC), Wisconsin DNR data | Measured water clarity (Secchi depth) and recent surface temperature | Public federal data service. Citation: doi:10.5066/P9QRKUVJ. | Wisconsin DNR and volunteer monitors, via the Water Quality Portal |
| USGS lake temperature data release (doi:10.5066/P9CA6XP8) | The modeled "typical year": ice-off, spring warm-up, summer surface temperature, stratification | U.S. government data. Modeled, not measured, and labeled that way. | U.S. Geological Survey |
| USGS Water Data API | Which gauges sit on a lake, and their live water level and flow | U.S. government data. Readings are provisional. | U.S. Geological Survey |
| USGS FishTraits database 14.3 (doi:10.5066/F7WD3ZH8) | Spawning months, largest size, lifespan and age at maturity for each fish | CC0 (public domain). National values, not Wisconsin surveys. | Frimpong and Angermeier, U.S. Geological Survey |
| GBIF open fish records | Which fish have been recorded in Wisconsin, and near which lakes | Only CC0 and CC BY records. Each dataset is credited below. | The dataset owners listed below, via GBIF |
| National Weather Service API | Today's forecast | U.S. government data; fetched live, with no endorsement implied. | National Weather Service |
When each part was last checked
- accessOct 23, 2026
- advisoryOct 24, 2026
- clarityOct 23, 2026
- classesOct 23, 2026
- contour mapOct 24, 2026
- fish recordsOct 23, 2026
- gaugesOct 23, 2026
- outlineOct 23, 2026
- regulationsOct 23, 2026
- satellite clarityOct 24, 2026
- shore fishingOct 24, 2026
- stockingOct 23, 2026
- temperature recentOct 23, 2026
- temperature typicalOct 23, 2026
- vhsOct 24, 2026
Fish record datasets (GBIF)
Open fish survey and museum datasets used for "fish recorded near this lake", all under CC0 or CC BY licenses.
- Auburn University Museum of Natural History Fishes Voucher Collections · doi:10.15468/dm3oyz
- Bell Museum fishes · doi:10.15468/0zjgmj
- Biodiversity Research and Teaching Collections - TCWC Vertebrates · doi:10.15468/szomia
- CAS Ichthyology (ICH) · doi:10.15468/efh2ib
- CUMV Fish Collection · doi:10.15468/jornbc
- Field Museum of Natural History (Zoology) Fish Collection · doi:10.15468/alz7wu
- Fish Collection NRM · doi:10.15468/d7eitf
- Fish Specimens · doi:10.15468/r5rwxx
- Illinois Natural History Survey - Fish Collection · doi:10.15468/5bmkf9
- iNaturalist Research-grade Observations · doi:10.15468/ab3s5x
- International Barcode of Life project (iBOL) · doi:10.15468/inygc6
- Iowa State University Fishes Collection · doi:10.15468/535q2j
- KUBI Ichthyology Collection · doi:10.15468/mgjasg
- LACM Vertebrate Collection · doi:10.15468/77rmwd
- LSUMZ (LSU MNS) Fishes Collection · doi:10.15468/gbnym3
- MMNS Ichthyology Collection · doi:10.15468/4c3qeq
- MSB Fish Collection (Arctos) · doi:10.15468/uxpj1o
- Multistate Aquatic Resources Information System - MARIS - Fish · doi:10.15468/wubvvz
- Natural History Museum (London) Collection Specimens · doi:10.5519/qd.dyj48ok9
- NCSM Ichthyology Collection · doi:10.36102/dwc.1
- NEON Biorepository Fish Collection (DNA Extracts) · doi:10.15468/qtg4n6
- NEON Biorepository Fish Collection (Vouchers) · doi:10.15468/7m2p54
- NMNH Extant Specimen Records (USNM, US) · doi:10.15468/hnhrg3
- Ohio State University Fish Division (OSUM) · doi:10.15468/subsl8
- Royal Ontario Museum - Ichthyology · doi:10.5886/gbendr
- SIO Marine Vertebrate Collection · doi:10.15468/ad1ovc
- Southeastern Louisiana University Ichthyology Collection · doi:10.15468/g9r78h
- SUI Vertebrate Collection · doi:10.15468/xpsbyo
- UAIC Ichthyological Collection · doi:10.15468/a2laag
- University of Michigan Museum of Zoology, Division of Fishes · doi:10.15468/8cxijb
- University of Texas, Biodiversity Center, Ichthyology Collection (TNHCi) · doi:10.15468/h8gxdr
- Vertebrate Zoology Division - Ichthyology, Yale Peabody Museum · doi:10.15468/mgyhok