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Cochran Lake

Price County, WisconsinMesotrophic

Cochran Lake earns an A — water clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate among the best monitored waters in Price County. The three sub-grades — clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a — track close together, so no single parameter is dragging the average.

A TSI near 42 places Cochran Lake in the mesotrophic band — moderate productivity, with seasonal swings between clearer spring water and richer late-summer conditions. A maximum depth of 20 ft puts Cochran Lake in the middle of Wisconsin's depth distribution. At 111 acres, Cochran Lake fits the Wisconsin median for monitored lakes, with partial shoreline records. Among the 27 graded lakes in Price County, Cochran Lake ranks 1 — in the top quartile locally.

Cochran Lake has no invasive species recorded in Wisconsin state databases as of 2026, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. Bass fishing is part of the appeal: the species list runs to 2, anchored by largemouth and/or smallmouth bass. 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 2026-05-17. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

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Swimming Safety

Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae

Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent

Good clarity, visible to about 11.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 14.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 42.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)11.5 ftB
Phosphorus14.2 µg/LA
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)No data
Trophic State Index (TSI)42Mesotrophic

Moderate nutrients, good water quality

Lake Details

CharacteristicValue
Maximum Depth20 ft
Surface Area111 acres

Fish Species

Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.

→ Best fishing times for Cochran Lake (14-day solunar calendar)

→ Is it safe to eat fish from Cochran Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)

Cochran Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)

Water Quality Trend: Stable

Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).

MetricTrendChange/YearYears
Water Clarity Improving+0.336 m/yr6
Phosphorus Declining+0.63 µg/L/yr6
See year-by-year chart →

Location

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County Ranking

Ranked #1 of 27 lakes in Price County

Nearby Lakes in Price County

WI DNR Lake Profile

Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 1998. 2 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).

DNR Assessment
Excellent · Shallow Seepage lake
Trophic State Index 41 (mesotrophic) · 5-year average

Fish Species (DNR-rated)

Largemouth Bass(Abundant)Panfish(Common)

Data Sources

Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal

Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards

Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes

Most recent sample: 2026-05-17

Monitoring stations: 1

Where to stay near Cochran Lake

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Cochran Lake in Price County, Wisconsin — live availability and prices for your trip.

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