Crawford County Lake Quality
Wisconsin, 2 lakes, average grade D (Poor)
Crawford County has 2 graded lakes — a thin enough sample that one or two stressed lakes can move the county average noticeably. Use the per-lake pages below for what actually matters. On average, Crawford County lakes grade D, with phosphorus loading and reduced clarity showing up across most of the dataset.
Most of the county's monitored lakes are shallow — under 50 feet — which means wind keeps the water column mixed all summer and sediment-bound phosphorus releases back into the surface layer whenever the bottom is disturbed. Nelson Lake (D) is the cleanest in the county.
Quick Answers for Crawford County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Nelson Lake, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or browse the full Wisconsin regulations index.
All Lakes in Crawford County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Max Depth | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nelson Lake | D | 3.8 ft | - | - |
| 2 | Yellow Smoke Lake | D | 3 ft | - | - |
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.