It is in the Big Muddy Badlands[3] of the southern part of the province in the RMs of Happy Valley No.

Part of the western shore of the lake is bordered by co-operative pasture lands while all of the eastern half, as well as a few other small sections, are designated as a critical piping plover habitat.

The piping plover "is considered near threatened on a global scale and has been designated as endangered in Canada".

In 2016, the most recent survey at Big Muddy Lake had five pairs and 14 total piping plovers observed.

[9] Other birds found at the lake include golden eagles, prairie falcons, turkey vultures, ferruginous hawks, violet-green swallows, rock wrens, veeries, ovenbirds, Baltimore orioles, spotted towhees, and burrowing owls.