Bernice Lake

Bernice Lake carries a solid B grade — strong on most parameters, with measurements that hold up well across the summer season. High phosphorus is the leading drag on the score — likely from upland agriculture, lawn runoff, or in-lake sediment release.

Mesotrophic conditions dominate at Bernice Lake: enough nutrients for a healthy fishery, not so much that algal blooms become a chronic problem. Bernice Lake is a shallow lake at 11 ft maximum depth, which means it warms quickly, mixes constantly, and amplifies nutrient inputs. The lake is compact at 32 acres, with partial shoreline records and little volume to buffer nutrient inputs. Bernice Lake ranks 8 of 10 in Fond du Lac County — at the lower end of the locally monitored distribution.

Bernice Lake carries an invasive watermilfoil record — boat-launch decontamination and shoreline care matter more here than at uninfested lakes. Bass fishing is part of the appeal: the species list runs to 3, anchored by largemouth and/or smallmouth bass. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.