Chippewa Flowage -North of Cranberry Bars Lake
Chippewa Flowage -North of Cranberry Bars Lake in Sawyer County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 32 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10 µg/L. Maximum depth: 92 ft. Surface area: 14593 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Walleye as abundant on Chippewa Flowage -North of Cranberry Bars Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 4.9 ft
- Max depth
- 92 ft
- Area
- 14,593 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Chippewa Flowage -North of Cranberry Bars Lake is a 14,593-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Sawyer County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 92 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 8 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available. Compared to the 44 other monitored lakes in Sawyer County, Chippewa Flowage -North of Cranberry Bars Lake ranks #37 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2024-09-12. 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
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Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 4.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 32 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 10 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 54.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 32 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 10 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 54 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Chippewa Flowage -North of Cranberry Bars Lake
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Wisconsin DNR rates Walleye as abundant on Chippewa Flowage -North of Cranberry Bars Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Chippewa Flowage -North of Cranberry Bars Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 4 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. 9 stations on file (most recent sample 2020).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 92 ft |
| Surface Area | 14,593 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Chippewa Flowage -North of Cranberry Bars Lake
- → Chippewa Flowage -North of Cranberry Bars Lake fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → Chippewa Flowage -North of Cranberry Bars Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from Chippewa Flowage -North of Cranberry Bars Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
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 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.229 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.54 µg/L/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.95 µg/L/yr | 3 |
County Ranking
Ranked #37 of 45 lakes in Sawyer County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Chippewa Flowage -North of Cranberry Bars Lake holds Grade C. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Sawyer County
Frequently asked questions about Chippewa Flowage -North of Cranberry Bars Lake
Where is Chippewa Flowage -North of Cranberry Bars Lake?
- Chippewa Flowage -North of Cranberry Bars Lake is a lake in Sawyer County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Chippewa Flowage -North of Cranberry Bars Lake?
- Chippewa Flowage -North of Cranberry Bars Lake in Sawyer County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 32 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 10 µg/L. Maximum depth: 92 ft. Surface area: 14593 acres.
Is Chippewa Flowage -North of Cranberry Bars Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Chippewa Flowage -North of Cranberry Bars Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 10 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Chippewa Flowage -North of Cranberry Bars Lake?
- Chippewa Flowage -North of Cranberry Bars Lake has a maximum depth of 92 feet. The lake covers 14593 acres.
What fish are in Chippewa Flowage -North of Cranberry Bars Lake?
- Fish species found in Chippewa Flowage -North of Cranberry Bars Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Sturgeon, Catfish. Chippewa Flowage -North of Cranberry Bars Lake is located in Sawyer County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Chippewa Flowage -North of Cranberry Bars Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Walleye as abundant on Chippewa Flowage -North of Cranberry Bars Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Chippewa Flowage -North of Cranberry Bars Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 4 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
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Where this data comes from
33 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Lac Courte Oreilles (Tribal)
LCOWIS_WQX33 samples · 2020–2024
Analytical methods
- 4500 P F ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry Automated Ascorbic Acid Method
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 2320 B ~ Alkalinity by Gran Titration
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus by Ascorbic Acid
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes