Butternut Lake
Butternut Lake in Price County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 36.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 32 ft. Surface area: 983 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Musky and Walleye as abundant on Butternut Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 4 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Max depth
- 32 ft
- Area
- 983 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
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Butternut Lake is a 983-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Price County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 32 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2026. The lake supports 7 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available. Compared to the 12 other monitored lakes in Price County, Butternut Lake ranks #8 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-07. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 4 ft. Phosphorus level: 36.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 56.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 36.1 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 56 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Butternut Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Butternut Lake in Price 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 Butternut Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Butternut Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 75°F) and coldest in Jun (about 68°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 24 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Butternut Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Butternut Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was high (188,799 cells/mL) on July 18, 2026.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Wisconsin DNR rates Musky and Walleye as abundant on Butternut Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Butternut Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is stable. 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 1991. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 32 ft |
| Surface Area | 983 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 Butternut 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: → Stable
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.031 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.26 µg/L/yr | 7 |
EPA Impairment Status
Butternut 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 WI10003659 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #8 of 13 lakes in Price County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Butternut Lake holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Price County
Frequently asked questions about Butternut Lake
Where is Butternut Lake?
- Butternut Lake is a lake in Price County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Butternut Lake?
- Butternut Lake in Price County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 36.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 32 ft. Surface area: 983 acres.
Is Butternut Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Butternut Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Butternut Lake?
- Butternut Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, from 24 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Butternut Lake?
- Butternut Lake has a maximum depth of 32 feet. The lake covers 983 acres.
What fish are in Butternut Lake?
- Fish species found in Butternut Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Sturgeon. Butternut Lake is located in Price County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Butternut Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Musky and Walleye as abundant on Butternut Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Butternut Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Does Butternut Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Butternut Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was high (188,799 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Wisconsin's current advisory before swimming.
Explore Butternut Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Price County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
66 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX66 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
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