Branch County Lake Quality
Wisconsin, 5 lakes, average grade C (Fair)
Branch County has 5 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. Branch County averages to a C. The distribution behind that average matters more than the letter: a few stressed lakes versus many decent ones can produce the same average as the inverse.
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. Rose Lake North Basin; Ovid Township (A) is the cleanest in the county.
Quick Answers for Branch County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Rose Lake North Basin; Ovid Township, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or browse the full Wisconsin regulations index.
All Lakes in Branch County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Max Depth | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rose Lake North Basin; Ovid Township | A | 10 ft | - | - |
| 2 | Lake of the Woods | B | 10 ft | - | - |
| 3 | Lmj-07 Lake | B | 8.2 ft | - | - |
| 4 | Union Lake | D | 3.5 ft | - | - |
| 5 | Union Lake Southwest Basin; Sherwood Township Section 11 | D | 3.5 ft | - | - |
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.