Charnley Lake
Iron County, WisconsinView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Charnley Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Oligotrophic
- Public access
- Limited data
Charnley Lake in Iron County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 13.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11 µg/L.
Charnley Lake is a cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Iron County, Wisconsin. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available. Compared to the 15 other monitored lakes in Iron County, Charnley Lake ranks #7 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-09-06. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Charnley Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water13.5 ft of visibility
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Charnley Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Charnley Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Charnley Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 13.5 ft. Phosphorus 11 µg/L. TSI 39.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 13.5ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 11µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | No reading The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. | |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 39 | Oligotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. No reading is a swimming clearance.
Ask about Charnley Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Charnley Lake typically sits around 63°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 75°F) and coldest in May (about 63°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (63°F) to its warmest (75°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 18 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Charnley Lake water temperature breakdown →
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Charnley Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Charnley Lake in Iron 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 Charnley Lake
Prices for Oct 16–18, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Follow Charnley Lake’s readings
Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.
Or email
Fishing Charnley Lake
Water Quality Trend: Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Worsening6 years
Phosphorus
Improving-0.5 µg/L/yr2 years
Nearby Lakes in Iron County
Frequently asked questions about Charnley Lake
Where is Charnley Lake?
- Charnley Lake is a lake in Iron County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Charnley Lake?
- Charnley Lake in Iron County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 13.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11 µg/L.
Is Charnley Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Charnley Lake?
- Charnley Lake typically sits around 63°F at the surface in September, from 18 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Can I fish at Charnley Lake?
- Public access to Charnley Lake is listed as yes on the lake record. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Wisconsin's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Charnley Lake across LakeQuality
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Iron County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Northwoods Wisconsin area
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Lake Superior Basin (MN+WI), ranked by water quality
Wisconsin's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Wisconsin
Other Lakes in Wisconsin
Oligotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
42 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX42 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.