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Lake Nancy and Long Lake read the same on nutrients and algae. Both are in Washburn County, Wisconsin.

Reviewed by LakeQuality Editorial Team · Updated

Both Lake Nancy and Long Lake sit in Wisconsin. A same-state comparison strips out the state-level water-quality regime as a variable: any differences in the readings here are about the lakes themselves, not the agencies sampling them. These two sit close on the readings, Lake Nancy versus Long Lake. The deciding factors for a recreational visitor are likely physical (depth, access, fish species) rather than water-quality differences.

With readings this close, the choice between the two lakes turns on non-water-quality factors: depth, fish species, public access, distance from home. The per-lake pages below cover all of those.

Lake Nancy

Washburn County, Wisconsin

Good clarity, visible to about 14 ft.

Long Lake

Washburn County, Wisconsin

Moderate clarity, visible to about 9.5 ft.

Side-by-Side Metrics

MetricLake NancyLong Lake
Water Clarity14 ft Better9.5 ft
Phosphorus13.5 µg/L Better17.3 µg/L
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)No dataNo data
Maximum Depth39 ft-
Surface Area757 acres3,290 acres
Public AccessYesYes
Fish Species6 Better0
Trophic Statemesotrophicmesotrophic

A green ✓ marks the better value for that metric (lower phosphorus / chlorophyll = cleaner; higher Secchi / depth / species count = better). Surface area and trophic state carry no tick — a bigger lake is not a better lake.

Verdict

Both lakes earn the same Grade B. The tiebreakers come down to clarity (Lake Nancy: 14 ft, Long Lake: 9.5 ft) and what you want from the lake. Lake Nancy supports more documented fish species.

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.