Arbutus Lake
Arbutus Lake in Forest County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 16 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 28 ft. Surface area: 163 acres.
- Clarity
- 16 ft
- Typical in August
- 72°F
- Max depth
- 28 ft
- Area
- 163 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Forest County
Arbutus Lake is a 163-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Forest County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 28 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Walleye. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 22 other monitored lakes in Forest County, Arbutus Lake ranks #18 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-22. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Crystal clear, you can see 16 ft down. Phosphorus level: 11.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 38.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 16 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 11.2 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 38 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Arbutus Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Arbutus Lake in Forest County, Wisconsin — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
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Water Temperature
Arbutus Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 72°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 74°F) and coldest in Apr (about 51°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 22 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Arbutus Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 28 ft |
| Surface Area | 163 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Arbutus LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Arbutus Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 1994. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.5 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +4.45 µg/L/yr | 3 |
EPA Impairment Status
Arbutus Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10000669 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.7 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #18 of 23 lakes in Forest County
Nearby Lakes in Forest County
Frequently asked questions about Arbutus Lake
What is the water quality grade for Arbutus Lake?
- Arbutus Lake in Forest County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 16 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 28 ft. Surface area: 163 acres.
Is Arbutus Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Arbutus Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Arbutus Lake?
- Arbutus Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August, from 22 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Arbutus Lake?
- Arbutus Lake has a maximum depth of 28 feet. The lake covers 163 acres.
What fish are in Arbutus Lake?
- Fish species found in Arbutus Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Walleye. Arbutus Lake is located in Forest County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Arbutus Lake?
- Arbutus Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Arbutus Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Arbutus Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
21 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX21 samples · 2023–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory