Arbutus Lake

Arbutus Lake earns an A — water clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate among the best monitored waters in Forest County. Clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.

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. A maximum depth of 28 ft puts Arbutus Lake in the middle of Wisconsin's depth distribution. At 163 acres, Arbutus Lake fits the Wisconsin median for monitored lakes, with partial shoreline records. Arbutus Lake sits at rank 20 of 35 in Forest County, in the lower half of the local distribution.

Arbutus Lake carries an invasive watermilfoil record — boat-launch decontamination and shoreline care matter more here than at uninfested lakes. The fishery includes walleye alongside the lake's other 3 documented species — a notable draw for Wisconsin anglers. Public access is available — the lake is on the Wisconsin DNR public-access list. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.