Editing Muskego, Wisconsin (section)

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|35.98|sqmi|sqkm|2}}, of which, {{convert|31.60|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is land and {{convert|4.38|sqmi|sqkm|2}} is water.<ref name="Gazetteer files">{{cite web|title=US Gazetteer files 2010|url=https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2012-11-18|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120125061959/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt|archive-date=2012-01-25}}</ref>

Muskego contains three lakes within its borders: Big Muskego Lake, [[Little Muskego Lake]], and [[Lake Denoon]].

Big Muskego Lake is a shallow {{convert|2260|acre|km2|adj=on}} flow-through lake in south-central Muskego. Most of the lake is less than four feet deep with a generally organic or [[Muck (soil)|muck]] bottom.  Big Muskego Lake is fringed with [[cattail]]-dominated [[wetland]]s and encompasses numerous islands of cattail [[marsh]]. Bass Bay is a {{convert|110|acre|km2|adj=on}} connected [[embayment]] of Big Muskego Lake that has a deeper basin typical of other glacially formed [[kettle (landform)|kettle]] lakes in the region.  Bass Bay has a maximum depth of {{convert|23|ft|m}} and has a bottom [[Substrate (marine biology)|substrate]] of predominantly muck with some isolated sandy shoreline areas.

Little Muskego Lake is a {{convert|506|acre|km2|adj=on}} flow-through lake with extensive shallow margins and a single deep basin. Located in the northwestern quadrant of the city, the lake has a maximum depth of {{convert|65|ft|m}} and averages {{convert|14|ft|m}} deep. The bottom substrate predominantly consists of [[silt]] or muck. Residents and visitors to Little Muskego Lake enjoy a variety of lake-related recreational activities, including boating, skiing, sailing, and fishing. The Muskego Waterbugs perform a water ski show in front of Idle Isle Park each Wednesday evening throughout the summer. The lake contains many fish species including: [[largemouth bass]], [[northern pike]], [[walleye]], and several [[panfish]] species. Most of the shores of Little Muskego Lake are developed with residential housing.

Lake Denoon is a {{convert|162|acre|km2|adj=on}} lake in the southwestern portion of the city and is also partially located in the Town of [[Norway, Wisconsin]]. The lake has a glacially formed kettle basin that reaches a maximum depth of {{convert|55|ft|m}} with bottom substrates varying from sands and [[gravel]] to muck. An outlet stream on the south end drains to Ke-Nong-Go-Mong (Long) Lake in [[Racine County]]. A cattail island and an extent of cattail shoreline are found on the lake's west end.  The remaining lakeshore is mostly developed with residential housing.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ci.muskego.wi.us/planning/ConservationServices/LakeManagement/tabid/670/Default.aspx |title=City of Muskego Planning Division |access-date=2009-10-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101002071223/http://www.ci.muskego.wi.us/planning/ConservationServices/LakeManagement/tabid/670/Default.aspx |archive-date=2010-10-02 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

A plan to drain the lakes, which were described as a stagnant nuisance, was proposed in 1854.<ref>{{cite news|title=Draining of the Muskego Lake |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/3133677/muskego_lake/|newspaper=Milwaukee Daily Sentinel|date=February 7, 1854|page=2|via = [[Newspapers.com]]|access-date = September 1, 2015 }} {{Open access}}</ref>