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LakeQuality

VHS (Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia)

Invasive SpeciesFound in 13 lakes

VHS (Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia) is documented in 13 lakes across our dataset — 13 in Minnesota and 0 in Wisconsin. Each state's DNR maintains an official "infested waters" roster that triggers boat-launch decontamination protocols. 13 lakes — narrow enough that aggressive containment is still on the table. Most upper-Midwest invasives that established here did so quietly over a decade before anyone noticed, so a low number today is not a guarantee for tomorrow.

The presence of VHS (Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia) 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.

13
Total Lakes
13
Minnesota
0
Wisconsin

Lakes with VHS (Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia)

LakeCountyStateGradeDepth
Su18 LakeCookMNA-
Su19 LakeCookMNA-
Superior LakeCookMNA-
Superior LakeSt. LouisMNA-
Ls94 LakeLakeMNA-
Suseq32a LakeSt. LouisMNA-
Seq044a LakeLakeMNA-
Suseq44a LakeLakeMNA-
Seq032a LakeSt. LouisMNA-
Little Lake DeepCookMNB-
Teal Lake DeepCookMNC-
Little Lake InletCookMNF-
Little Lake LandingCookMNF-

Frequently Asked Questions

How many lakes have vhs (viral hemorrhagic septicemia)?

VHS (Viral Hemorrhagic Septicemia) has been documented in 13 lakes, 13 in Minnesota and 0 in Wisconsin.

Does vhs (viral hemorrhagic septicemia) affect water quality?

Invasive species can significantly affect lake ecosystems. They may alter nutrient cycling, displace native species, and change water clarity. Lakes with vhs (viral hemorrhagic septicemia) should be monitored for changes in water quality over time.

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.