Clark Lake Beach, Upper Door County Watershed (TK06)
Clark Lake Beach, Upper Door County Watershed (TK06)
Clark Lake Beach (97700)
0.02 Miles
0 - 0.02
Natural Community
Natural communities (stream and lake natural communities) represent model results that use predicted flow and temperature based on landscape features and related assumptions. Ranges of flow and temperature associated with specific aquatic life communities (fish, macroinvertebrates) help biologists identify appropriate resource management goals. Wisconsin Natural Communities.
Shallow Lowland
Year Last Monitored
This is the most recent date of monitoring data stored in SWIMS. Additional surveys for fish and habitat may be available subsequent to this date.
2024
Unknown
 
Door
Trout Water 
Trout Waters are represented by Class I, Class II or Class III waters. These classes have specific ecological characteristics and management actions associated with them. For more information regarding Trout Classifications, see the Fisheries Trout Class Webpages.
No
Outstanding or Exceptional 
Wisconsin has designated many of the state's highest quality waters as Outstanding Resource Waters (ORWs) or Exceptional Resource Waters (ERWs). Waters designated as ORW or ERW are surface waters which provide outstanding recreational opportunities, support valuable fisheries and wildlife habitat, have good water quality, and are not significantly impacted by human activities. ORW and ERW status identifies waters that the State of Wisconsin has determined warrant additional protection from the effects of pollution. These designations are intended to meet federal Clean Water Act obligations requiring Wisconsin to adopt an 'antidegradation' policy that is designed to prevent any lowering of water quality - especially in those waters having significant ecological or cultural value.
No
Impaired Water 
A water is polluted or 'impaired' if it does not support full use by humans, wildlife, fish and other aquatic life and it is shown that one or more of the pollutant criteria are not met.
No

Fish and Aquatic Life

Current Use
The use the water currently supports. This is not a designation or classification; it is based on the current condition of the water. Information in this column is not designed for, and should not be used for, regulatory purposes.
Supported Aquatic Life
Waters that support fish and aquatic life communities (healthy biological communities).
Attainable Use
The use that the investigator believes the water could achieve through managing "controllable" sources. Beaver dams, hydroelectric dams, low gradient streams, and naturally occurring low flows are generally not considered controllable. The attainable use may be the same as the current use or it may be higher.
Default FAL
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.
Designated Use
This is the water classification legally recognized by NR102 and NR104, Wis. Adm. Code. The classification determines water quality criteria and effluent limits. Waters obtain designated uses through classification procedures.
Default FAL
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.

Overview

Clark Lake is an oligotrophic drainage lake fed by Logan Creek and drained by Whitefish Bay Creek. It is
the second largest lake in Door County, with an area of 868 acres and a maximum depth of 28 feet. The
fishery consists of large and smallmouth bass, perch, northern pike, walleye and panfish. Its high water
quality should be protected through nonpoint source controls on Logan Creek and through proper
shoreland management. It is being monitored under the Long-Term Trend Monitoring Program. Local
property owners have expressed concerns about possible failing and/or nonconforming on-site septic
systems around the lake.
Surveys of rooted aquatic plants were conducted in 1986, 1989 and 1992 on Clark Lake (Rasman, 1992).
An overall increase in species diversity was found in near-shore areas (areas to 0.5 m depth); however, in
the 0.5 to 1.5 m zone there was a decrease in diversity. Surveyors observed noticeable declines in coontail
(Ceratophyllum demersum) and increases in Eurasian milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum).

Date  2002

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

Source: 1965, Surface Water Resources of Door County Clark Lake, T28, 29N, R27E Surface acres = 864.0, S.D.F. = 1.53, Maximum depth = 22 feet.

The deepest of the mainland lakes of Door County. This is a hard water drainage lake occupying a depression in the area submerged by glacial Lake Nippissing, separated from Lake Michigan by dunes of recent origin. The water is clear and the bottom primarily sand and rock. Logan Creek is the inlet stream, called Whitefish Bay Creek below the lake outlet. Largemouth and smallmouth bass, panfish, northern pike and walleye constitute the fishery. In winter yellow perch provide a significant fishery. Road-ends, with limited parking, provide public access to launch boats; commercial facilities are also available. There are 58 acres of woody wetland bordering the lake. Waterfowl make extensive use of the lake in fall and hunting is an important activity. There are three boat liveries and 116 dwellings on the shoreline, attesting to its recreational popularity.

Date  1965

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Clark Lake Beach, Upper Door County Watershed (TK06) Fish and Aquatic LifeClark Lake Beach, Upper Door County Watershed (TK06) RecreationClark Lake Beach, Upper Door County Watershed (TK06) Fish Consumption

General Condition

Clark Lake Beach was assessed for the 2018 listing cycle; E. coli data sample data were clearly below the 2018 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Recreation use. This water was meeting its designated uses and not considered impaired.

Date  2017

Author  Ashley Beranek

General Condition

Clark Lake (97700) was assessed during the 2016 listing cycle; total phosphorus and chlorophyll sample data were clearly below 2016 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Recreation use and Fish and Aquatic Life use. This water is meeting these designated uses and is not considered impaired.

Date  2015

Author  Ashley Beranek

Condition

Wisconsin has over 84,000 miles of streams, 15,000 lakes and milllions of acres of wetlands. Assessing the condition of this vast amount of water is challenging. The state's water monitoring program uses a media-based, cross-program approach to analyze water condition. An updated monitoring strategy (2015-2020) is now available. Compliance with Clean Water Act fishable, swimmable standards are located in the Executive Summary of Water Condition in 2018. See also the 'monitoring and projects' tab.

Reports

Recommendations

County Land and Water Management Plan
Door County Soil & Water Conservation Department proposes to conduct a phased approach to the development of protection strategies for its waters including lakes. This phase of the project will collect and analyze information regarding surface water resources in order to develop specific implementation recommendations for phase II indlucing upgrading regulatory programs. Project deliverables shall include a draft and final report containing: 1) an inventory and classification of county inland lakes; 2) appropriate supporting data and maps and; 3) recommendations specifying phase II implementation activities including proposed regulatory standards for shoreland and lake protection.

Management Goals

Wisconsin's Water Quality Standards provide qualitative and quantitative goals for waters that are protective of Fishable, Swimmable conditions [Learn more]. Waters that do not meet water quality standards are considered impaired and restoration actions are planned and carried out until the water is once again fishable and swimmable

Management goals can include creation or implementation of a Total Maximum Daily Load analysis, a Nine Key Element Plan, or other restoration work, education and outreach and more. If specific recommendations exist for this water, they will be displayed below online.

Monitoring

Monitoring the condition of a river, stream, or lake includes gathering physical, chemical, biological, and habitat data. Comprehensive studies often gather all these parameters in great detail, while lighter assessment events will involve sampling physical, chemical and biological data such as macroinvertebrates. Aquatic macroinvertebrates and fish communities integrate watershed or catchment condition, providing great insight into overall ecosystem health. Chemical and habitat parameters tell researchers more about human induced problems including contaminated runoff, point source dischargers, or habitat issues that foster or limit the potential of aquatic communities to thrive in a given area. Wisconsin's Water Monitoring Strategy was recenty updated.

Grants and Management Projects

Monitoring Projects

Watershed Characteristics

Clark Lake is located in the Upper Door County watershed which is 287.02 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (38%), grassland (22%) and a mix of agricultural (18.90%) and other uses (21.10%). This watershed has 102.85 stream miles, 254,855.32 lake acres and 24,541.39 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked High for runoff impacts on streams, Not Ranked for runoff impacts on lakes and High for runoff impacts on groundwater and therefore has an overall rank of High. This value can be used in ranking the watershed or individual waterbodies for grant funding under state and county programs.However, all waters are affected by diffuse pollutant sources regardless of initial water quality. Applications for specific runoff projects under state or county grant programs may be pursued. For more information, go to surface water program grants.

Natural Community

Clark Lake Beach is considered a Shallow Lowland under the state's Natural Community Determinations.

Natural communities (stream and lake natural communities) represent model results and DNR staff valiation processes that confirm or update predicted conditions based on flow and temperature modeling from historic and current landscape features and related variables. Predicated flow and temperatures for waters are associated predicated fish assemblages (communities). Biologists evaluate the model results against current survey data to determine if the modeled results are corect and whether biological indicators show water quaity degradation. This analysis is a core component of the state's resource management framework. Wisconsin's Riverine Natural Communities.

Shallow lowland lake describes the depth and location of the lake in a watershed. These variables affect the lakes response to watershed variables.