Big Arbor Vitae Lake

Big Arbor Vitae Lake earns a C — middle-of-the-pack water quality, with one or two parameters dragging the average down from a stronger grade. Clarity is the limiting factor — phosphorus is reasonable but suspended particles or algal cells keep water transparency below Wisconsin norms.

Eutrophic conditions are the baseline here: clarity drops noticeably in late summer, and dissolved oxygen near the bottom can become a concern. A maximum depth of 41 ft puts Big Arbor Vitae Lake in the middle of Wisconsin's depth distribution. At 1,070 acres, Big Arbor Vitae Lake is one of the larger lakes in Vilas County, with partial shoreline records supporting multiple distinct use patterns. Within the 191 graded lakes of Vilas County, Big Arbor Vitae Lake sits at rank 144, near the bottom of the county list.

An invasive species record — Banded Mystery Snail — has been logged at Big Arbor Vitae Lake; Wisconsin DNR maintains the official infested-waters list. The fishery includes walleye alongside the lake's other 4 documented species — a notable draw for Wisconsin anglers. A documented public access point at Big Arbor Vitae Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.