Rusty Crayfish
Invasive SpeciesFound in 254 lakes
Rusty Crayfish is documented in 254 lakes across our dataset — 0 in Minnesota and 254 in Wisconsin. Each state's DNR maintains an official "infested waters" roster that triggers boat-launch decontamination protocols. A 254-lake footprint means Rusty Crayfish prevention has shifted from "stop the spread" to "manage the new normal." Watercraft-inspection programs at boat launches and shoreline-management practices on individual lakes are doing most of the active prevention work.
The presence of Rusty Crayfish does not directly change a lake's LakeGrade rubric score — the grade measures the water itself, not the species inhabiting it. But invasive presence is a meaningful adjacent signal worth reading alongside the grade.
Lakes with Rusty Crayfish
| Lake | County | State | Grade | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geneva Lake | Walworth | WI | A | 135 ft |
| Lac Courte Oreilles Lake | Sawyer | WI | A | 90 ft |
| Grindstone Lake | Sawyer | WI | A | 60 ft |
| Middle Sugarbush Lake | Vilas | WI | A | 57 ft |
| West Bay Lake | Vilas | WI | A | 57 ft |
| West Bay Lake | Vilas | WI | A | 31 ft |
| Long Lake | Chippewa | WI | A | 101 ft |
| Long Lake | Bayfield | WI | A | 28 ft |
| Chain Lake | Chippewa | WI | A | 74 ft |
| Chain Lake | Oconto | WI | A | 42 ft |
| Upper Eau Claire Lake | Bayfield | WI | A | 92 ft |
| Black Hawk Lake | Iowa | WI | A | 42 ft |
| Spider Lake | Vilas | WI | A | 43 ft |
| Silver Lake | Forest | WI | A | - |
| Birch Lake | Vilas | WI | A | 45 ft |
| Birch Lake | Oneida | WI | A | 27 ft |
| Round Lake | Sawyer | WI | A | 74 ft |
| Round Lake | Waupaca | WI | A | 67 ft |
| Bass Lake | Oconto | WI | A | 40 ft |
| Big Portage Lake | Vilas | WI | A | 40 ft |
| Pewaukee Lake | Waukesha | WI | A | 45 ft |
| Bear Lake | Oneida | WI | A | 20 ft |
| Bear Lake | Waupaca | WI | A | 62 ft |
| Big Lake | Vilas | WI | A | 30 ft |
| Lily Lake | Forest | WI | A | 24 ft |
| Pine Lake | Iron | WI | A | 41 ft |
| Pine Lake | Shawano | WI | A | 35 ft |
| Anderson Lake | Oconto | WI | A | 40 ft |
| Anderson Lake | Vilas | WI | A | 63 ft |
| Planting Ground Lake | Oneida | WI | A | 37 ft |
| Lake Emily | Portage | WI | A | 35 ft |
| Upper Kaubashine Lake | Oneida | WI | A | 56 ft |
| Little Crawling Stone Lake | Vilas | WI | A | 44 ft |
| Island Lake | Rusk | WI | A | 54 ft |
| Island Lake | Vilas | WI | A | 35 ft |
| Little Crooked Lake | Vilas | WI | A | 30 ft |
| Van Vliet Lake | Vilas | WI | A | 20 ft |
| White Lake | Langlade | WI | A | 42 ft |
| Middle Eau Claire Lake | Bayfield | WI | A | 66 ft |
| Deep Hole Lake | Langlade | WI | A | 10 ft |
| Booth Lake | Oneida | WI | A | 34 ft |
| Red Cedar Lake | Barron | WI | A | 53 ft |
| North Turtle Lake | Vilas | WI | A | 58 ft |
| Clear Lake | Rusk | WI | A | 74 ft |
| Pickerel Lake | Oconto | WI | A | - |
| Stone Lake | Vilas | WI | A | 43 ft |
| Mercer Lake | Oneida | WI | A | 23 ft |
| Deer Lake | Polk | WI | A | 46 ft |
| White Potato Lake | Oconto | WI | A | - |
| Lake Lucerne | Forest | WI | A | 73 ft |
Showing 50 of 254 infested lakes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many lakes have rusty crayfish?
Rusty Crayfish has been documented in 254 lakes, 0 in Minnesota and 254 in Wisconsin.
Does rusty crayfish affect water quality?
Invasive species can significantly affect lake ecosystems. They may alter nutrient cycling, displace native species, and change water clarity. Lakes with rusty crayfish should be monitored for changes in water quality over time.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.