Crane Lake
Crane Lake in Forest County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 22 µg/L. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 355 acres.
- Clarity
- 7 ft
- Typical in August
- 71°F
- Max depth
- 25 ft
- Area
- 355 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Forest County
Crane Lake is a 355-acre mesotrophic lake in Forest County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 25 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 22 other monitored lakes in Forest County, Crane Lake ranks #13 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-27. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7 ft. Phosphorus level: 22 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 49.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 22 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Crane Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Crane Lake in Forest 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.
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Water Temperature
Crane Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 80°F) and coldest in Apr (about 48°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 16 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Crane Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Crane Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was high (118,032 cells/mL) on May 30, 2026.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 25 ft |
| Surface Area | 355 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Pickerel LakePublic
- Crane LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Crane 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.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. 4 stations on file (most recent sample 2024).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Crane Lake covering fish populations, stocking, water quality, and management. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- 2017Crane Lake fisheries summary, 2017Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2017 (PDF)
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.293 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.61 µg/L/yr | 5 |
EPA Impairment Status
Crane Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10000669 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #13 of 23 lakes in Forest County
Nearby Lakes in Forest County
Frequently asked questions about Crane Lake
What is the water quality grade for Crane Lake?
- Crane Lake in Forest County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 22 µg/L. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 355 acres.
Is Crane Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Crane Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Crane Lake?
- Crane Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August, from 16 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Crane Lake?
- Crane Lake has a maximum depth of 25 feet. The lake covers 355 acres.
What fish are in Crane Lake?
- Fish species found in Crane Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Crane Lake is located in Forest County, Wisconsin.
Does Crane Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Crane Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was high (118,032 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Wisconsin's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Crane Lake?
- Crane Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Pickerel Lake, Crane Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Crane Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Other Grade B Lakes in Wisconsin
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Where this data comes from
42 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX42 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory