Mud Lake

Washtenaw County, Michigan · MI DNR bathymetric survey

6ft Max
depth

67 acres 3 contours Public access 88% weedy

Paddling Index80Very Goodsheltered geometry · wooded shoreline

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Depth scale

0246

The lake

Survey readout

Mud Lake is mapped to a depth of 6 ft on the Michigan DNR survey and covers about 67 acres in Washtenaw County, Michigan.

Measured from the Michigan DNR inland-lake contour survey (depths read from the survey's isobath field; this lake's summary-depth column is blank in the source).

Deepest mapped contour: 6 ft
Mean depth: 2.6 ft · estimated
Surface area: 67 acres
Estimated volume: 172 acre-ft · 56M gal
Shoreline: 1.55 mi · lobed
Aquatic vegetation: 88% of surface · NDVI estimate
Trophic state: Oligotrophic · measured 2001 · details
Public access: Boat Launch
In: Waterloo Recreation Area · Michigan DNR

Additional depth details3 contours

Contour depths: 0–6 ft
Recorded point soundings: 6 ft, 2 ft, 2 ft, 2 ft, 2 ft

100% of the surface sits over water shallower than 10 ft. Depth, area and volume are estimated from the interpolated survey surface — historical reference, not measurement.

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Location

Washtenaw County, Michigan · 15 nearest of 47 lakes · tap a dot for that lake

Chart data

Provenance

Sources: MI DNR inland lake contours, USGS 3DEP, USDA NAIP (public domain), OpenStreetMap (ODbL), MI DNR Boat Launches.

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Map details & sources5 sources

All layers registered to one bounding box; positions in WGS 84.

Survey-derived depth contours drape over USGS 3DEP elevation, with a USDA NAIP aerial basemap and OpenStreetMap shoreline. Color shows surveyed depth; dark lines are the survey's own isobaths.

Coordinates: 42.34772, -84.12783
MI DNR lake ID: L388
Vertical exaggeration: 3.0× below the waterline; land at true scale
Basemap: USDA NAIP · public domain
Model size: 2.1 MB

Lake productivity & trophic state

Measured 2001

Classification: Oligotrophic. Lower nutrient and algae levels, often clearer water and lower biological productivity. Based on measurements recorded in 2001 (chlorophyll-a 2.0 µg/L).

Trophic state describes how biologically productive a lake is, based on indicators such as nutrients, algae and water clarity. It is not a swimming-safety or overall water-quality rating.

What do the categories mean?

Oligotrophic · this lake≤ 2 µg/L · lower nutrient and algae levels, often clearer water and lower biological productivity.
Mesotrophic2–7 µg/L · moderate nutrient levels and biological productivity.
Eutrophic7–30 µg/L · higher nutrient levels and biological productivity, often with more algae or aquatic plant growth.
Hypereutrophic> 30 µg/L · very high nutrient levels and biological productivity, with a greater potential for heavy algae growth and low water clarity.

Bands are summer (June–August) mean chlorophyll-a, the green pigment in algae, at the EPA 2012 National Lakes Assessment thresholds. Trophic condition can change over time and by measurement method. Source: Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership Conservation Planner; chlorophyll-a measurements from LAGOS-US LIMNO.

Paddling

Paddling Index methodology v1.0 · calculated 2026-09-23

80 / 100Very GoodData confidence: High

Mud Lake has a heavily wooded and largely undeveloped setting, well sheltered geometry, some nearby classified roads. No special watercraft restriction is identified in the current source.

Why this score?5 components

Included in the index

Component	Rating	Points of weight	Measurement
Natural setting	Excellent	28.3 of 30	91% natural land cover within 150 m of shore (48% forest, 43% wetland; 3% developed)
Geometric wind exposure	Excellent	22.6 of 25	mean fetch 547 m · 32% of sampled water within 500 m of shelter · short fetch in most directions
Watercraft controls	None identified	7.5 of 15	No special watercraft restriction identified in the current DNR source. Motors permitted, subject to general law.
Public access	Good	12.8 of 15	1 site with DNR boating-facility records · 1 ramp lane · 1 trailer space
Road isolation	Good	8.6 of 15	some nearby classified roads · 19 MDOT-classified segments within 1.2 km, peak 1,244 vehicles/day

Additional paddling considerations

These describe the lake but are not part of the v1 Paddling Index and do not change the number above.

Wake sensitivity: Low — wide enough that wakes disperse over most of the lake
Aquatic vegetation: High — approximately 88% mapped coverage · NAIP aerial imagery (NDVI)
Observed motorized activity: Unknown — No lake-level measurement of boat traffic is available. Legal permission to operate motors is not evidence of use.
Wildlife habitat potential: High — 48% forest and 43% wetland cover within 150 m of shore

Compare Michigan lakes by Paddling Index →

How this index is calculated. The Paddling Index is a relative composite derived from lake geometry and public environmental, access, roadway and watercraft-control data. It is not a user review, a safety rating, or a prediction of an individual outing. Differences of a few points should not be treated as meaningful — an 84 and an 82 are broadly comparable. Components and weights: natural setting 30%, geometric wind exposure 25%, watercraft controls 15%, public access 15%, road isolation 15%; observed motorboat activity is weighted 0% because no defensible lake-level measurement exists. Where a component has no data the remaining weights are renormalized and the confidence rating is lowered; below Medium confidence no number is shown. Sources: MI DNR bathymetric survey outline (0 ft isobath), USGS/MRLC NLCD Land Cover (2021), MI DNR Watercraft Control Areas (2026-08), MI DNR Boating Access Sites (2026-08) and MDOT Annual Average Daily Traffic (2025). Conditions change quickly — check current weather and local conditions before going out.

Non-native species records

1 record

Plants & algae

European Frogbit

What does non-native mean?

USGS records identify non-native species that have been documented for this lake or its shoreline. Non-native does not necessarily mean invasive, and historical records do not confirm current presence.

Source: Midwest Glacial Lakes Partnership Conservation Planner; underlying nonindigenous species records from the USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species database.

At the lake

community-mapped amenities · straight-line distance

⛻ Campground≈0.2 mi · 2 mapped

🏖 Beach / swim area≈0.3 mi

🎢 Playground≈0.3 mi

🥾 Hiking trailhead≈1.1 mi

From OpenStreetMap community mapping — shown only where something is mapped; an amenity missing here may still exist. Distances are straight-line. Verify before you rely on it. © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).

Bait & tackle nearby

licensed retail bait dealers · straight-line distance

Lightning Quick Gas N Go #26≈3.6 mi4400 Clear Lake Rd, Grass Lake · Google · Apple

Mike and Tina's Party Store≈5.4 mi · (517) 985-604413100 Territorial Rd, Stockbridge · Google · Apple

Tab's Custom Cuts≈6.9 mi14500 Holmes Rd, Gregory · Google · Apple

Dealers licensed by the Michigan DNR to sell live bait; listing is not an endorsement. Distances are straight-line, not driving — and call ahead: hours and stock change. Source: Michigan DNR retail bait dealer data.

Quick answers

Mud Lake — common questions

How deep is Mud Lake?

The deepest contour on the Michigan DNR bathymetric survey of Mud Lake is 6 ft. That is the deepest depth the historical survey map records, which may differ from the deepest point of the lake itself.

How big is Mud Lake?

Mud Lake covers about 67 acres in Washtenaw County, Michigan.

What is the average depth of Mud Lake?

The estimated mean depth of Mud Lake is 2.6 ft, calculated from the survey contours.

Is there public access to Mud Lake?

Yes. The Michigan DNR boat-launch data identifies 1 public access site on Mud Lake, including Mud Lake.