Axhandle Lake
Axhandle Lake in Chippewa County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 10.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14 µg/L. Maximum depth: 72.5 ft. Surface area: 86 acres.
- Clarity
- 10.2 ft
- Max depth
- 72.5 ft
- Area
- 86 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Chippewa County
Axhandle Lake is a 86-acre mesotrophic lake in Chippewa County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 73 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 6 other monitored lakes in Chippewa County, Axhandle Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-07. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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)
Good clarity, visible to about 10.2 ft. Phosphorus level: 14 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 14 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Axhandle Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Axhandle Lake in Chippewa 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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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 72.5 ft |
| Surface Area | 86 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Axhandle LakePublic
- Axhandle LakePublic
- Dark LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Axhandle Lake
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 1990. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1.432 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.18 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Axhandle 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 WI10003389 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.33 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 7 lakes in Chippewa County
Nearby Lakes in Chippewa County
Frequently asked questions about Axhandle Lake
What is the water quality grade for Axhandle Lake?
- Axhandle Lake in Chippewa County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 10.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14 µg/L. Maximum depth: 72.5 ft. Surface area: 86 acres.
Is Axhandle Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Axhandle Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Axhandle Lake?
- Axhandle Lake has a maximum depth of 72.5 feet. The lake covers 86 acres.
What fish are in Axhandle Lake?
- Fish species found in Axhandle Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Axhandle Lake is located in Chippewa County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Axhandle Lake?
- Axhandle Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Axhandle Lake, Axhandle Lake, Dark Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Axhandle Lake across LakeGrade
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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State Parks Near Axhandle Lake
Other Grade B Lakes in Wisconsin
Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
95 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX95 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Turbidity in Water
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