Bittersweet Lake
Bittersweet Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 5.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 31 ft. Surface area: 104 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Bittersweet Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 5.5 ft
- Max depth
- 31 ft
- Area
- 104 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Why Bittersweet Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Bittersweet Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by WI DNR and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Bittersweet Lake is a 104-acre lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 31 feet. 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.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2024-09-14. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Bittersweet Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 5.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 53.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 53 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Bittersweet Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Bittersweet Lake in Vilas 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Bittersweet Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Bittersweet Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Bittersweet Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2024).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 31 ft |
| Surface Area | 104 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Bittersweet Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.325 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -4.03 µg/L/yr | 7 |
EPA Impairment Status
Bittersweet 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 WI10007641 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.54 km)
Graded lakes near Bittersweet Lake
Bittersweet Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Vilas County
Frequently asked questions about Bittersweet Lake
Where is Bittersweet Lake?
- Bittersweet Lake is a lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — there is not enough recent sampling to assign a letter.
What is the water quality grade for Bittersweet Lake?
- Bittersweet Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 5.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 31 ft. Surface area: 104 acres.
Is Bittersweet Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Bittersweet Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Bittersweet Lake?
- Bittersweet Lake has a maximum depth of 31 feet. The lake covers 104 acres.
What fish are in Bittersweet Lake?
- Fish species found in Bittersweet Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Bittersweet Lake is located in Vilas County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Bittersweet Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Bittersweet Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Bittersweet Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
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Where this data comes from
1 measurement from 1 monitoring station, 2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX1 sample · 2024
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