Buffalo Lake

Buffalo Lake pulls a D on the LakeGrade rubric — phosphorus loading and limited clarity hold it below the Wisconsin average. Of the three parameters, phosphorus is the worst — at 126 µg/L of phosphorus, it keeps the lake susceptible to algal blooms in warm years.

At a TSI of 59, Buffalo Lake reads as eutrophic — nutrient-rich enough that summer algal growth and reduced clarity are expected, not unusual. A maximum depth of just 8 ft means sediment-bound phosphorus releases back into the water column whenever wind stirs the bottom — a classic shallow-lake dynamic. Buffalo Lake covers 2,179 acres alongside partial shoreline records, large enough that conditions can vary meaningfully between bays. Buffalo Lake ranks 13 of 14 in Marquette County — at the lower end of the locally monitored distribution.

Eurasian watermilfoil is established at Buffalo Lake, which can dampen recreational access and pressure the native plant community. Walleye are documented at Buffalo Lake, one of 5 fish species on record for the lake. A documented public access point at Buffalo Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.