Overview

White Clay Lake is a hard water spring lake having alkaline, clear water of moderate transparency. Littoral materials consist of muck and marl (99 percent) and some sand. The shoreline is predominantly wetland (90 percent) of the marsh type. Fish species inhabiting this lake are northern pike, walleye, largemouth bass, perch, bluegill, black crappie, rock bass, pumpkinseed, black bullhead, longnose gar and carp. Puddle ducks use this lake as a nesting site. Puddle ducks, diving ducks, coots, swan, blue, snow and Canada geese use this lake on their spring and/or fall migrations. Commercial facilities consist of one resort and one boat rental. There is one dwelling located on the shoreline. Tho outlet stream, Pickerel Creek, is tributary to Mud Lake (T27N,R17E) and in the Shawano Lake Watershed.

Source: 1968, Surface Water Resources of Shawano County White Clay Lake, T27N, R17E, Section 23 Surface Acres = 256.0, S.D.F.= 1.56, Maximum Depth = 45 feet.

Date  1968

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Historical Description

White Clay lake is a hard water spring fed lake having clear water of moderate transparency. The shoreline is predominately wetland with the littoral materials consisting of muck and marl. The surrounding land use is predominately agriculture with an assumed significant nutrient nonpoint loading. As part on a priority watershed project in the 1980’s, the direct barnyard discharge on the north shore was eliminated. White clay is one of the lakes selected for long term water quality monitoring by Department staff. A citizen lake monitoring volunteer collects sechi disc depths. Up to date water quality data can be found in the SWIMS data base.

A whole lake aquatic macrophyte survey was conducted by Department Research staff in 2005 using the point intercept method and no EWM was found. Several years ago Eurasian water milfoil was discovered in the lake but no control has been initiated.

Date  2010

Author  James Reyburn

Impaired Waters

White Clay Lake (WBIC 326400) was placed on the impaired waters list for total phosphorus in 2012. The 2018 assessments showed continued impairment by phosphorus; new total phosphorus sample data exceeded the 2018 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Recreation use and Fish and Aquatic Life use. Chlorophyll-a sample data exceeded the REC use thresholds, and clearly met the FAL use thresholds. Based on the most updated information, no change in the existing impaired waters listing was needed.

Date  2017

Author  Ashley Beranek

Impaired Waters

White Clay Lake (326400) was placed on the impaired waters list for total phosphorus in 2012. The 2016 assessments showed continued impairment by phosphorus; total phosphorus and chlorophyll sample data exceeded 2016 WisCALM listing thresholds for the Recreation use, but did not exceed Fish and Aquatic Life thresholds. Based on the most updated information, no change in existing impaired waters listing is needed.

Date  2015

Author  Aaron Larson

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

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

White Clay Lake is located in the Shawano Lake watershed which is 71.16 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (28.60%), agricultural (22%) and a mix of wetland (19.50%) and other uses (29.90%). This watershed has 76.28 stream miles, 7,438.74 lake acres and 7,573.91 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked Not Ranked for runoff impacts on streams, High 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.