Clear Lake
Clear Lake in Polk County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 15.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 26 ft. Surface area: 30 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Clear Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 15.5 ft
- Max depth
- 26 ft
- Area
- 30 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Clear Lake is a 30-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Polk County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 26 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2020. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 54 other monitored lakes in Polk County, Clear Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2020-09-09. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Crystal clear, you can see 15.5 ft down. Phosphorus level: 13.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 40.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 15.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 13.9 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Clear Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Clear Lake in Polk 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 Clear Lake
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Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Clear Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Clear Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 2 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. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2020).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 26 ft |
| Surface Area | 30 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Clear Lake ParkPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Clear 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: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -5.25 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +4.25 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Clear Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Friendshuh Farms LlcBlack Brook, Town Of · 1.9 mi away · NPDES WI0066052
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 55 lakes in Polk County
Nearby Lakes in Polk County
Frequently asked questions about Clear Lake
Where is Clear Lake?
- Clear Lake is a lake in Polk County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Clear Lake?
- Clear Lake in Polk County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 15.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 26 ft. Surface area: 30 acres.
Is Clear Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Clear Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Clear Lake?
- Clear Lake has a maximum depth of 26 feet. The lake covers 30 acres.
What fish are in Clear Lake?
- Fish species found in Clear Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Clear Lake is located in Polk County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Clear Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Clear Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Clear Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Clear Lake?
- Clear Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Clear Lake Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Clear Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
6 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX6 samples · 2020
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory