Crystal Lake
Crystal Lake in Bayfield County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 16.2 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 29 ft. Surface area: 117 acres.
- Clarity
- 16.2 ft
- Max depth
- 29 ft
- Area
- 117 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Bayfield County
Why Crystal Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Crystal Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by WI DNR and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Crystal Lake is a 117-acre lake in Bayfield County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 29 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Smallmouth Bass. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2022-10-29. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Crystal Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Crystal clear, you can see 16.2 ft down. Trophic State Index: 37.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 16.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 37 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Crystal Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Crystal Lake in Bayfield 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 Crystal Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 29 ft |
| Surface Area | 117 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Diamond LakePublic
- Crystal LakePublic
- Funnys LanePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Crystal 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. 2 stations on file (most recent sample 2022).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.129 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +2.42 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Crystal 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 WI10026588 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.48 km)
Graded lakes near Crystal Lake
Crystal Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Bayfield County
Frequently asked questions about Crystal Lake
What is the water quality grade for Crystal Lake?
- Crystal Lake in Bayfield County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 16.2 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 29 ft. Surface area: 117 acres.
Is Crystal Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Crystal Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Crystal Lake?
- Crystal Lake has a maximum depth of 29 feet. The lake covers 117 acres.
What fish are in Crystal Lake?
- Fish species found in Crystal Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Crystal Lake is located in Bayfield County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Crystal Lake?
- Crystal Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Diamond Lake, Crystal Lake, Funnys Lane. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Crystal Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
16 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX16 samples · 2021–2022
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
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