Dunes Lake

Dunes Lake earns a C — middle-of-the-pack water quality, with one or two parameters dragging the average down from a stronger grade. Secchi readings are the weakest of the scored parameters, suggesting suspended sediment or algal biomass dominates the optical signal.

Eutrophic conditions are the baseline here: clarity drops noticeably in late summer, and dissolved oxygen near the bottom can become a concern. Dunes Lake is a shallow lake at 1 ft maximum depth, which means it warms quickly, mixes constantly, and amplifies nutrient inputs. At 48 acres, Dunes Lake sits below the Wisconsin median: a small water where shoreline activity has an outsized effect on water quality. Dunes Lake ranks 9 of 11 in Door County — at the lower end of the locally monitored distribution.

No invasive species are currently listed at Dunes Lake — the lake remains off the Wisconsin infested-waters roster. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Dunes Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.