Alma Lake

On the LakeGrade rubric, Alma Lake pulls an A: clarity at 39.4 ft and 15 µg/L of phosphorus put it in the top bracket for Wisconsin. Sub-grades cluster within a single letter of each other, which usually means the lake is in stable trophic balance rather than fighting one specific stressor.

The lake's low TSI puts it in oligotrophic territory — the cleanest of the four trophic classes, but also the most vulnerable to nutrient-driven shifts. The lake's maximum depth is not yet documented in state morphometric records — context for its physical structure remains limited. At 58 acres, Alma Lake sits below the Wisconsin median: a small water where shoreline activity has an outsized effect on water quality. Alma Lake ranks 49 of 202 in Vilas County, putting it in the upper tier of locally monitored lakes.

An invasive species record — Chinese Mystery Snail — has been logged at Alma Lake; Wisconsin DNR maintains the official infested-waters list. Walleye are documented at Alma Lake, one of 5 fish species on record for the lake. A documented public access point at Alma Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.