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LakeQuality
A

Charnley Lake

Iron County, WisconsinOligotrophic

Charnley Lake earns an A — water clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate among the best monitored waters in Iron County. Sub-grades cluster within a single letter of each other, which usually means the lake is in stable trophic balance rather than fighting one specific stressor.

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. Charnley Lake ranks 9 of 34 in Iron County — solidly in the upper half of the local distribution.

Charnley Lake has no invasive species recorded in Wisconsin state databases as of 2025, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Charnley 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 2025-09-06. 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 41 ft down. Phosphorus level: 11 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 31.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)41 ftA
Phosphorus11 µg/LA
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)No data
Trophic State Index (TSI)31Oligotrophic

Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming

Water Quality Trend: Improving

Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).

MetricTrendChange/YearYears
Water Clarity Stable-0.107 m/yr7
Phosphorus Improving-0.5 µg/L/yr2
See year-by-year chart →

Location

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County Ranking

Ranked #9 of 34 lakes in Iron County

Nearby Lakes in Iron County

Data Sources

Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal

Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards

Most recent sample: 2025-09-06

Monitoring stations: 2