Clare County Lake Quality
Wisconsin, 12 lakes, average grade B (Good)
Only 12 lakes in Clare County carry an active grade. The county-level summary is therefore representative of those specific lakes, not necessarily of every water body in the county. The county-wide average lands at B — solid water quality with most lakes carrying clear summer transparency and low-to-moderate phosphorus.
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. Windover Lake South Basin; Freeman Township (A) is the cleanest in the county.
Quick Answers for Clare County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Windover Lake South Basin; Freeman Township, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or browse the full Wisconsin regulations index.
All Lakes in Clare County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Max Depth | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Windover Lake South Basin; Freeman Township | A | 15 ft | - | - |
| 2 | Windover Lake | A | 15 ft | - | - |
| 3 | Arnold Lake | A | 17.5 ft | - | - |
| 4 | Arnold Lake North Central Basin; Hayes Township Sec. 2 | A | 18 ft | - | - |
| 5 | Lake George | B | 11.5 ft | - | - |
| 6 | Lily Lake North Central Basin; Greenwood Township | B | 7.5 ft | - | - |
| 7 | Budd Lake South Basinorth; Hayes Township | B | 14 ft | - | - |
| 8 | Budd Lake | B | 13.5 ft | - | - |
| 9 | Elbow Lake | B | 11 ft | - | - |
| 10 | Lake George; Central Deep Basin; Lincoln Township | B | - | - | - |
| 11 | Shingle Lake South Basin; Lincoln Township | B | - | - | - |
| 12 | Lily Lake | C | 8 ft | - | - |
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.