Bittersweet Lake

On the scoring rubric Bittersweet Lake grades a D: clarity at 5.5 ft and phosphorus readings still being added keep it in the lower bracket for Vilas County. Clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.

At a TSI of 53, Bittersweet Lake reads as eutrophic — nutrient-rich enough that summer algal growth and reduced clarity are expected, not unusual. The lake bottoms out at 31 ft — a moderate depth that supports a warm-water fishery without the year-round cold refuge a deeper basin provides. At 104 acres, Bittersweet Lake fits the Wisconsin median for monitored lakes, with partial shoreline records. Within the 191 graded lakes of Vilas County, Bittersweet Lake sits at rank 186, near the bottom of the county list.

No invasive species are currently listed at Bittersweet Lake — the lake remains off the Wisconsin infested-waters roster. The fishery is bass-led, with 3 documented species across the lake's records. A documented public access point at Bittersweet 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.