Blue Lake
Blue Lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 23 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 49 ft. Surface area: 441 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Blue Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 23 ft
- Typical in August
- 72°F
- Max depth
- 49 ft
- Area
- 441 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
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Blue Lake is a 441-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 49 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Smallmouth Bass. Compared to the 66 other monitored lakes in Oneida County, Blue Lake ranks #28 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-26. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Crystal clear, you can see 23 ft down. Phosphorus level: 10.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 35.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 23 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 10.7 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 35 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Blue Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Blue Lake in Oneida 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 Blue Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Blue Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 74°F) and coldest in Apr (about 47°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 14 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Blue Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Blue Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Blue Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is declining. 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. Monitored by volunteers since 1993. 2 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 49 ft |
| Surface Area | 441 acres |
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 Blue Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.429 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +2.78 µg/L/yr | 6 |
County Ranking
Ranked #28 of 67 lakes in Oneida County
Nearby Lakes in Oneida County
Frequently asked questions about Blue Lake
Where is Blue Lake?
- Blue Lake is a lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Blue Lake?
- Blue Lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 23 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 49 ft. Surface area: 441 acres.
Is Blue Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Blue Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Blue Lake?
- Blue Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August, from 14 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Blue Lake?
- Blue Lake has a maximum depth of 49 feet. The lake covers 441 acres.
What fish are in Blue Lake?
- Fish species found in Blue Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye. Blue Lake is located in Oneida County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Blue Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Blue Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Blue Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Explore Blue Lake across LakeQuality
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
87 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX87 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes