Skip to main content
LakeQuality
A

Black Dan Lake

Sawyer County, WisconsinLimited DataOligotrophic

On the LakeGrade rubric, Black Dan Lake pulls an A: clarity at 32.0 ft and phosphorus readings still being added put it in the top bracket for Wisconsin. The three sub-grades — clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a — track close together, so no single parameter is dragging the average.

The lake's low TSI puts it in oligotrophic territory — the cleanest of the four trophic classes, but also the most vulnerable to nutrient-driven shifts. The lake's maximum depth is not yet documented in state morphometric records — context for its physical structure remains limited. The lake's surface area is not consistently recorded across state datasets — physical context remains partial. Among the 52 graded lakes in Sawyer County, Black Dan Lake sits at rank 22, above the county median.

Black Dan Lake has no invasive species recorded in Wisconsin state databases as of 2019, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Black Dan Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2019-09-02. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

Swimming Safety

Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae

Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent

Crystal clear, you can see 32 ft down. Trophic State Index: 27.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)32 ftA
PhosphorusNo data
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)No data
Trophic State Index (TSI)27Oligotrophic

Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming

Location

Loading map…

County Ranking

Ranked #22 of 52 lakes in Sawyer County

Nearby Lakes in Sawyer County

Data Sources

Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal

Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards

Most recent sample: 2019-09-02

Monitoring stations: 1