Is Big Portage Lake Safe for Swimming?
Big Portage Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has nutrient and algae measurements on record from state and federal monitoring. A water-quality reading is not a swimming clearance. The state water agency and county health departments post current advisories; check them before you swim.. Water clarity: 18.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 12 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Key Metrics
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 18.5 ft |
| Phosphorus | 12 μg/L |
| Maximum Depth | 40 ft |
| Location | Vilas County, Wisconsin |
How does Big Portage Lake compare?
With an overall water-quality readings of —, Big Portage Lake matches or beats the Wisconsin state average. It ranks #33 of 103 lakes in Vilas County by water quality score.
Water clarity (Secchi depth) sits at 18.5 feet. That counts as exceptional clarity — sunlight penetrates deep, supporting submerged plants and limiting algae.
Watch Big Portage Lake water quality
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