Bear Lake
Bear Lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 20 ft. Surface area: 75 acres.
- Clarity
- 9 ft
- Max depth
- 20 ft
- Area
- 75 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Oconto County
Bear Lake is a 75-acre mesotrophic lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 20 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 4 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 38 other monitored lakes in Oconto County, Bear Lake ranks #8 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-14. 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)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9 ft. Phosphorus level: 13.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 44.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 13.8 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 44 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Bear Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Bear Lake in Oconto 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 | 20 ft |
| Surface Area | 75 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- John LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Bear 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 2005. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Bear Lake covering fish populations, stocking, water quality, and management. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- 2017Bear and Munger lakes comprehensive survey, 2017Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2017 (PDF)
- 2009Bear and Munger lakes fisheries surveys 2009Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2009 (PDF)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1.971 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.21 µg/L/yr | 7 |
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Bear Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Lakewood Sanitary District No 1Lakewood · 1.3 mi away · NPDES WI0049841Recent violation
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #8 of 39 lakes in Oconto County
Nearby Lakes in Oconto County
Frequently asked questions about Bear Lake
What is the water quality grade for Bear Lake?
- Bear Lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 20 ft. Surface area: 75 acres.
Is Bear Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Bear Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Bear Lake?
- Bear Lake has a maximum depth of 20 feet. The lake covers 75 acres.
What fish are in Bear Lake?
- Fish species found in Bear Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Bear Lake is located in Oconto County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Bear Lake?
- Bear Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include John Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Bear Lake across LakeGrade
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Where this data comes from
30 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_WQX30 samples · 2020–2026
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
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