Door
No
No
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Europe Lake is a shallow, seepage lake with high water quality. The lake has a surface area of 273 acres
and a maximum depth of 10 feet. The lake is separated from the close Lake Michigan shoreline by a
dolomite ledge and sand dunes. The fishery consists of smallmouth bass, northern pike, perch, walleye and panfish. Winter fish kills are not a problem even though the lake is shallow. Levels of phosphorus and nitrogen are low and cultural eutrophication does not appear to be a problem.
Date 2002
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Source: 1965, Surface Water Resources of Door County Europe Lake, T32N, R29E, Section 9 Surface acres = 274.7, S.D.F. = 1.38, Maximum depth = 8 feet.
A shallow landlocked hard water lake which occupies a depression in bedrock on the bed of glacial Lake Nippissing, separated from present Lake Michigan by a dolomitic ledge and dunes of recent origin. Smallmouth bass panfish, northern pike, and walleye constitute the fishery. Though the lake is exceptionally shallow, winterkill is not a problem. Access is afforded by a town road with boat launching but limited parking. This is a scenic lake with clear water and only moderately developed (12 dwellings) entirely wooded shores. About 32 acres of wooded wetland adjoin the lake. Waterfowl make some use of the lake and hunting is an important fall activity.
Date 1965
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
General Condition
Europe Lake (WBIC 93100) was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; new chloride sample data were clearly below 2018 WisCALM listing thresholds for Fish and Aquatic Life use. This water was meeting this designated use and was not considered impaired.
Date 2017
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
| WBIC | Official Waterbody Name | Station ID | Station Name | Earliest Fieldwork Date | Latest Fieldwork Date | View Station | View Data |
|---|
| 93100 | Europe Lake | 10019496 | Europe Lake -- Access End Of Europe Lake Rd | 7/31/2002 | 8/30/2023 | Map | Data |
| 93100 | Europe Lake | 153120 | Europe Lake - Deep Hole | 7/27/1973 | 4/8/2024 | Map | Data |
| 93100 | Europe Lake | 10022267 | Europe Lake | 6/12/2007 | 6/16/2015 | Map | Data |
| 93100 | Europe Lake | 10045195 | Phragmites Occurrence - Europe Lake | 8/1/2015 | 8/30/2017 | Map | Data |
| 93100 | Europe Lake | 10012364 | Europe Lake | 7/28/2003 | 9/24/2019 | Map | Data |
|
Watershed Characteristics
Europe 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.