Waushara
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Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
Mud Lake is a small, landlocked, seepage lake located northeast of Huron Lake in the Town of Oasis. This shallow lake has an average depth of three feet. The bottom consists almost entirely of muck. The lake winterkills annually and does not sustain or support a fishery of any type. The lake exhibits exceptionally clear water, and is very low in productivity as related to the fertility. The primary use appears to be for cattle watering, as much of the immediate shoreline is pastured. Minor erosion is beginning to develop along the north shore in the pastured sections. There is an intermittent inlet which originates from the east and carries large volumes of runoff waters during periods of heavy rains. This is apparent from the gullying and deposition of soils at the mouth of this inlet. As is the case with most of the lakes in the western section of the county, the water level in this basin appears to be two to three feet down from its original capacity. The lake has a large leech population. The south and west shore are very scenic and the dense vegetation of the shoreline harbors an abundance of song birds. A duck blind was noted on the shoreline, indicating that some duck hunting is available in the fall of the year. It is classified as a wilderness lake and there is no public access.
Source: 1970, Surface Water Resources of Waushara County Mud Lake (Near Plainfield) T-20-N, R-9-E, Section 22 (4) Surface Acres = 10.5; S.D.F. = 1.10; Maximum Depth = 4 feet
Date 1970
Author Aquatic Biologist
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.
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
| Project Name (Click for Details) | Year Started |
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Monitoring Projects
| WBIC | Official Waterbody Name | Station ID | Station Name | Earliest Fieldwork Date | Latest Fieldwork Date | View Station | View Data |
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| 1006100 | Mud Lake | 10007384 | Mud Lake | 7/27/1999 | 7/17/2010 | Map | Data |
| 1006100 | Mud Lake | 703098 | Mud Lake - Deep Hole | 7/12/1987 | 11/12/1989 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Mud Lake is located in the Fourteenmile Creek watershed which is 184.15 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (48.20%), agricultural (24.20%) and a mix of open (15%) and other uses (12.70%). This watershed has stream miles, lake acres and 11,432.03 wetland acres.
Nonpoint Source Characteristics
This watershed is ranked Medium for runoff impacts on streams, Medium 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.