Lake Chetac North Basin vs Sissabagama Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Sissabagama Lake has a higher water quality grade (B, Good) than Lake Chetac North Basin (D, Poor). Both are in Sawyer County, Wisconsin.
Lake Chetac North Basin and Sissabagama Lake are both in Wisconsin — a same-state head-to-head where the comparison comes down to lake-specific differences in depth, watershed, and monitoring history rather than the broader state-level water-quality regime. The grades are meaningfully apart: Sissabagama Lake grades a B while Lake Chetac North Basin grades a D. That two-letter spread reflects real underlying differences — different watershed inputs, different depth profiles, or different monitoring rigor.
For a recreational visitor, the wider grade gap is decisive — Sissabagama 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?
Lake Chetac North Basin
No clarity data.
Sissabagama Lake
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8 ft.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Lake Chetac North Basin | Sissabagama Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Grade | D (Poor) | B (Good) |
| Water Clarity | No data | 8 ft |
| Phosphorus | 56.3 µg/L | 18.7 µg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | No data |
| Maximum Depth | 26 ft | 48 ft |
| Surface Area | 2,400 acres | 805 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 5 | 6 |
| Trophic State | eutrophic | mesotrophic |
Bold value = better for that metric (lower phosphorus / chlorophyll = cleaner; higher Secchi / depth / species count = better).
Verdict
Sissabagama Lake wins on overall water quality with a Grade B versus Lake Chetac North Basin's Grade D. For fishing diversity, Sissabagama Lake also leads with 6 species.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.