Trout Bog and South Sparkling Bog are both located within the
Northern Highland Lakes District (NHLD) in Boulder Junction, Wisconsin, U.S.A.
The two bogs were chosen for this comparison study for their similarities in
both physical and chemical features, and close proximity (4.5 km apart) for
meteorological consistency. Both are small, dimictic and dystrophic lakes that
are sheltered, for the most part, with little surrounding development. As
closed-basin seepage lakes, the bogs are characterized by high total dissolved
carbon (DOC), nitrogen and phosphorus. Although South Sparkling Bog is about
half the surface area (0.44 ha vs. 1.01 ha), both bogs are about 8 m deep. Both
bogs are ice covered from approximately November to April.