Mud Lake, Lake Chippewa Watershed (UC22)
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Mud Lake, Lake Chippewa Watershed (UC22)
Mud Lake (2434800)
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463.63 Acres
Natural Community
Shallow Lowland
Year Last Monitored
2021
Excellent
 
Sawyer
Trout Water 
No
Outstanding or Exceptional 
No
Impaired Water 
No

Fish and Aquatic Life

Current Use
Shallow Lowland
Attainable Use
Default FAL
Designated Use
Default FAL

Overview

Mud Lake, in the Lake Chippewa Watershed, is a 463.62 acre lake that falls in Sawyer County. This lake is managed for fishing and swimming and is currently considered impaired.

Date  2011

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

Source: 1969, Surface Water Resources of Sawyer County

Mud Lake, T41N, R7W, Section 27,28,33,34
Surface Acres = 388.6, Maximum Depth = 14 feet, M.P.A. = 40 ppm,
Secchi Disk = 7 feet

A soft water, drainage lake on the North Fork of the Chief
River. It has an estimated normal outlet flow of 10 cubic feet per
second. The two-foot impounding structure on nearby Callahan Lake
also impounds the water of Mud Lake. The fish population includes
muskellunge, walleye, largemouth bass, bluegill, black crappie,
pumpkinseed, perch, rock bass, bullheads, and suckers. Although
the shoreline is predominately upland, the irregular shape of the
lake with its numerous bays, islands, and floating bogs appears to
predominate. Much of the lake has depths of less than six feet and
rooted aquatic vegetations such as cattails, spike rushes,
bulrushes, bur reed, and floating pond weed are common, providing
extensive nesting habitat for waterfowl. Muskrat and beaver are
also common, Private development amounts to only two cottages. The
only access is by water from Callahan Lake. Of the lake's 6.35
miles of shoreline, 0.65 miles is in state ownership as part of a
remnant warmwater fish habitat project.

Date  1969

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Shallow lowland lake describes the depth and location of the lake in a watershed. These variables affect the lakes response to watershed variables.
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.
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.
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.
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.