Rusty Crayfish
Invasive SpeciesFound in 244 lakes
Rusty Crayfish is documented in 244 lakes across our dataset — 244 in Wisconsin. Each state's natural-resources agency maintains an official "infested waters" roster that triggers boat-launch decontamination protocols. A 244-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 |
| Bass Lake | Oconto | WI | A | 40 ft |
| White Sand Lake Deep | Vilas | WI | A | 63 ft |
| Lake Lucerne | Forest | WI | A | 73 ft |
| Lake Metonga | Forest | WI | A | 79 ft |
| Round Lake | Sawyer | WI | A | 74 ft |
| Round Lake | Waupaca | WI | A | 67 ft |
| Little Spider Lake | Vilas | WI | A | 23 ft |
| Long Lake | Bayfield | WI | A | 28 ft |
| North Lake | Florence | WI | A | 43 ft |
| Anderson Lake | Vilas | WI | A | 63 ft |
| Butternut Lake | Forest | WI | A | 42 ft |
| Papoose Lake | Vilas | WI | A | 65 ft |
| Deer Lake | Polk | WI | A | 46 ft |
| Paya Lake | Oconto | WI | A | 40 ft |
| Big Lake | Vilas | WI | A | 30 ft |
| Boot Lake | Oconto | WI | A | 38 ft |
| Upper Kaubashine Lake | Oneida | WI | A | 56 ft |
| Squash Lake | Oneida | WI | A | 74 ft |
| White Lake | Langlade | WI | A | 42 ft |
| Big Crawling Stone Deep Lake | Vilas | WI | A | 87 ft |
| Rose Lake | Langlade | WI | A | 24 ft |
| Franklin Lake | Forest | WI | A | 46 ft |
| Big Portage Lake | Vilas | WI | A | 40 ft |
| Upper Eau Claire Lake | Bayfield | WI | A | 92 ft |
| Half Moon Lake | Polk | WI | A | 60 ft |
| Hasbrook Lake | Oneida | WI | A | 50 ft |
| Black Oak Lake | Vilas | WI | A | 85 ft |
| Lower Eau Claire Lake | Bayfield | WI | A | 41 ft |
| Presque Isle Lake | Vilas | WI | A | 103 ft |
| Crawling Stone Lake | Vilas | WI | A | 87 ft |
| Little Crawling Stone Lake | Vilas | WI | A | 44 ft |
| Grindstone Lake | Sawyer | WI | A | 60 ft |
| Middle Eau Claire Lake | Bayfield | WI | A | 66 ft |
| White Sand Lake | Vilas | WI | A | 71 ft |
| White Sand Lake | Vilas | WI | A | 63 ft |
| Upper Sugarbush Lake Deep | Vilas | WI | A | 29 ft |
| Lower Sugarbush Lake Deep | Vilas | WI | A | 61 ft |
| Middle Sugarbush Lake Deep | Vilas | WI | A | 57 ft |
| Mercer Lake | Oneida | WI | A | 23 ft |
| Geneva Lake | Walworth | WI | A | 135 ft |
| Rose Lake | Langlade | WI | A | 24 ft |
| Buskey Bay Lake | Bayfield | WI | A | 51 ft |
| Maiden Lake | Oconto | WI | A | 52 ft |
| Wheeler Lake | Oconto | WI | A | 35 ft |
| Twin Bear Lake | Bayfield | WI | A | 59 ft |
| Stormy Lake | Vilas | WI | A | 63 ft |
| Sugarbush Lake | Vilas | WI | A | 29 ft |
| Pokegama Lake | Vilas | WI | A | 65 ft |
| Geneva Lake Site B | Walworth | WI | A | 135 ft |
Showing 50 of 244 infested lakes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many lakes have rusty crayfish?
Rusty Crayfish has been documented in 244 graded lakes: 244 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.
Invasives Found With Rusty Crayfish
Co-occurs in 151 lakes · 493 total
Co-occurs in 117 lakes · 363 total
Co-occurs in 99 lakes · 432 total
Co-occurs in 84 lakes · 278 total
Co-occurs in 44 lakes · 688 total
Co-occurs in 9 lakes · 57 total
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.