Overview

Mirror Lake is a hard water drained basin lying within corporate boundaries of the City of Waupaca. The water is turbid and oftentimes displays a heavy algae bloom. There is no inlet, however there is a navigable outlet to Shadow Lake and then to the Crystal River. Marl is the predominant littoral bottom material with lesser amounts of sand and detritus present. The City of Waupaca applied a sand blanket along some of the shoreline in an attempt to control aquatic vegetation.

Largemouth bass and bluegill are the principal species present. At one time brown trout and rainbow trout were stocked but stocking was discontinued in 1964. Carp and stunted panfish are a problem. Eradication by chemical treatment is planned for the summer of 1971. Two city roads with parking and a city park provide access. The park contains a public beach. Navigable water access is available from Shadow Lake. Private facilities consist of 25 cottages and dwellings. Because of the close proximity to the city, Mirror Lake receives little waterfowl use. Hunting is prohibited. The lake is the source of the municipal water supply for the City of Waupaca and this constitutes the major use. Two water pumps, operating full time, provided water to the City of Waupaca. Source: 1971, Surface Water Resources of Waupaca County Mirror Lake, T22N, R12E, Section 30--13, Surface Acres = 12.8, S.D.F. = 1.24, Maximum Depth = 43 feet

Date  1971

Author   Aquatic Biologist

General Condition

Mirror Lake (WBIC 258700) was assessed during the 2018 listing cycle; new chloride sample data were clearly below the 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

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

Mirror Lake is located in the Waupaca River watershed which is 290.77 mi². Land use in the watershed is primarily forest (43.70%), agricultural (30.40%) and a mix of grassland (14%) and other uses (11.80%). This watershed has 231.34 stream miles, 2,456.10 lake acres and 14,124.68 wetland acres.

Nonpoint Source Characteristics

This watershed is ranked Medium 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.