Chain Lake vs Island Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Island Lake has a higher water quality grade (B, Good) than Chain Lake (D, Poor). Both are in Wisconsin.
Both Chain Lake and Island Lake sit in Wisconsin. A same-state comparison strips out the state-level water-quality regime as a variable: any grade differences here are about the lakes themselves, not the agencies grading them. Island Lake (B) is materially cleaner than Chain Lake (D). A gap that wide is unlikely to close in a single year of remediation work; it reflects multi-decade differences in the lakes themselves.
For a recreational visitor, the wider grade gap is decisive — Island Lake is the better water-quality choice. For a researcher, the gap is the interesting part: what is different about the two watersheds, and which of those differences is mutable?
Chain Lake
Murky, only visible to about 5.5 ft.
Island Lake
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.7 ft.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Chain Lake | Island Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Grade | D (Poor) | B (Good) |
| Water Clarity | 5.5 ft | 7.7 ft |
| Phosphorus | No data | 15.4 µg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | No data |
| Maximum Depth | 74 ft | 54 ft |
| Surface Area | 454 acres | 543 acres |
| Public Access | Unknown | Unknown |
| Fish Species | 6 | 6 |
| Trophic State | eutrophic | mesotrophic |
Bold value = better for that metric (lower phosphorus / chlorophyll = cleaner; higher Secchi / depth / species count = better).
Verdict
Island Lake wins on overall water quality with a Grade B versus Chain Lake's Grade D. Water clarity: 7.7 ft vs 5.5 ft. For fishing diversity, Island Lake also leads with 6 species.