Door
No
No
No
Fish and Aquatic Life
Overview
This shallow (no deeper than a foot), 155-acre drainage lake is located in a large swamp between North Bay and Moonlight Bay in the Baileys Harbor township. A spring-fed stream enters from the north and flows to Moonlight Bay. The lake is accessible from Lake Michigan during high water. The bottom is comprised primarily of marl. A limited panfish fishery is present, but the lake suffers from winterkill and fluctuating water levels. The state currently owns approximately 1,900 acres of primarily wooded wetland in the area and manages it as a state wildlife area. It is one of the few remaining natural waterfowl production areas in Door County (WDNR, 1987). For information on the Mud Lake Wildlife Area see the "Wetlands Report" of this plan.
Date 2002
Author Aquatic Biologist
Historical Description
Source: 1965, Surface Water Resources of Door County Mud Lake, T3O, 3 IN, R28E, Section 33 Surface acres = 155.0, S.D.F. = 1.83, Maximum depth = 5 feet.
A shallow, elongate drainage lake in a large swamp between North Bay and Moonlight Bay. The major water source is a spring-fed stream which enters from the north and flows to Moonlight Bay. Marl is the dominant bottom type. The lake is accessible by boat from Lake Michigan during high water periods. Smallmouth bass provide a limited fishery, and the lake experiences winterkill and fluctuating water levels frequently. This may be classed as a wilderness lake. Approximately 750 acres of wooded wetland border the lake and provide suitable habitat for deer. Waterfowl frequent it as attested to by several blinds along the marshy shore.
Date 1965
Author Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin
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.
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 |
|---|
| 99100 | Mud Lake | 10001286 | Mud Lake | 9/8/2000 | 8/30/2017 | Map | Data |
| 99000 | Rieboldt Creek | 10058345 | Mud Lake and Riebodlts Creek | 8/13/2024 | 8/13/2024 | Map | Data |
| 99100 | Mud Lake | 10058345 | Mud Lake and Riebodlts Creek | 8/13/2024 | 8/13/2024 | Map | Data |
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Watershed Characteristics
Mud 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.