Douglas County Lake Quality
Wisconsin, 40 lakes, average grade C (Fair)
There are 40 graded lakes in Douglas County. The mix is varied enough that the county-level average tells you the broad strokes, not the choose-this-cabin specifics. Douglas 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.
The county's lakes lean shallow, which makes the grades sensitive to wind, sediment-resuspension, and any nutrient inputs from the watershed. The cleanest lake on the books is Leader Lake (A); the most-stressed is St. Louis River Outlet Upstream of John A. Blatnik Memorial Bridge Lake (F).
Quick Answers for Douglas County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Leader Lake, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or browse the full Wisconsin regulations index.
DNR Reports (13)
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries Survey resources for lakes in Douglas County. Showing 12 most recent — browse all reports →
- 2025Cranberry Lake spring shocking survey, 2025Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2025 (PDF)
- 2025Eau Claire, Lower spring shocking survey, 2025Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2025 (PDF)
- 2025Person Lake spring shocking survey, 2025Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2025 (PDF)
- 2025Two Mile Lake spring shocking survey, 2025Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2025 (PDF)
- 2024Dowling Lake spring shocking survey, 2024Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2024 (PDF)
- 2024Lyman Lake spring shocking survey, 2024Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2024 (PDF)
- 2017Lake Minnesuing fishery assessment, 2017Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2017 (PDF)
- 2015St. Louis River lake sturgeon survey summary 2015Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2015 (PDF)
- 2014Nebagamon Lake comprehensive fisheries survey, 2014Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2014 (PDF)
- 2014Whitefish Lake comprehensive fisheries survey, 2014Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2014 (PDF)
- 2009Upper St. Croix Lake Fisheries survey, 2009Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2009 (PDF)
- —Amnicon Lake fishery survey, 2024-2025Fisheries Survey · WI DNR (PDF)
All Lakes in Douglas County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Max Depth | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leader Lake | A | 15.3 ft | 56 ft | 9.5 µg/L |
| 2 | Whitefish Lake | A | 24.5 ft | 102 ft | 11.4 µg/L |
| 3 | Whitefish Lake | A | 25.3 ft | 102 ft | 9.4 µg/L |
| 4 | Bond Lake | A | 18 ft | 67 ft | - |
| 5 | Bardon Lake | A | 27 ft | 102 ft | 9.4 µg/L |
| 6 | Park Creek Pond | A | - | 7 ft | 18 µg/L |
| 7 | Cheney Lake | A | - | 21 ft | 10.2 µg/L |
| 8 | Red Lake | A | 12 ft | 37 ft | 12.5 µg/L |
| 9 | Saint Croix Flowage Lake | B | 10.5 ft | - | 23.8 µg/L |
| 10 | Lake Nebagamon | B | 7 ft | 56 ft | 17.7 µg/L |
| 11 | Unnamed Lake | B | - | 6 ft | 27.5 µg/L |
| 12 | Lk Superior Lake | B | - | - | 29 µg/L |
| 13 | St Croix Flowage Lake | B | 6.8 ft | - | 23.2 µg/L |
| 14 | Lake Minnesuing | B | 6.2 ft | 43 ft | 16.2 µg/L |
| 15 | Person Lake | B | 7.7 ft | 8 ft | 25.2 µg/L |
| 16 | Amnicon Lake | C | 5 ft | 31 ft | 23.2 µg/L |
| 17 | Dowling Lake | C | - | - | 54.8 µg/L |
| 18 | Bear Lake | D | 5 ft | 10 ft | - |
| 19 | Tozer Lake | D | 3 ft | - | 38.2 µg/L |
| 20 | Dowling Lake | D | 2.5 ft | 13 ft | 50 µg/L |
| 21 | St. Louis River Outlet Upstream of John A. Blatnik Memorial Bridge Lake | F | 2.9 ft | - | - |
| 22 | Radigan Flowage Lake | F | 2 ft | - | 94.9 µg/L |
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.