Dairyland Reservoir
Dairyland Reservoir in Rusk County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 1.4 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 70 ft. Surface area: 1870 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Walleye as abundant on Dairyland Reservoir. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 1.4 ft
- Max depth
- 70 ft
- Area
- 1,870 acres
- Public access
- Yes
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Why Dairyland Reservoir has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: 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 Dairyland Reservoir, 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.
Dairyland Reservoir is a 1,870-acre lake in Rusk County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 70 feet. The lake supports 8 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2020-07-28. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Watch Dairyland Reservoir water quality
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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 Dairyland Reservoir
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Very murky, less than 1.4 ft of visibility. Trophic State Index: 73.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 73 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Dairyland Reservoir
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Dairyland Reservoir in Rusk 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 Dairyland Reservoir
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Dairyland Reservoir — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was high (108,643 cells/mL) on July 18, 2026.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Wisconsin DNR rates Walleye as abundant on Dairyland Reservoir.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Dairyland Reservoir — official chemistry is on file, not a letter. 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. 4 stations on file (most recent sample 2020).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 70 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,870 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Dairyland ReservoirSemi-private
- Dairyland ReservoirSemi-private
- Dairyland ReservoirSemi-private
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 Dairyland Reservoir
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Dairyland Reservoir is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Flambeau (completed 1951), built primarily for hydroelectric on the Flambeau; gravity-type dam, 92 ft tall and 4,980 ft long.
- Surface area
- 1,952 ac
- Normal storage
- 43,500 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 47,167 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 1,910 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Dairyland Power Cooperative
All listed purposes: Hydroelectric;Fire Protection, Stock, Or Small Fish Pond;Fish and Wildlife Pond;Recreation;Flood Risk Reduction.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI00794 · Operator website
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
3 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Dairyland Reservoir under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 3 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Dunn Paper Ladysmith LlcLadysmith · 3 mi away · NPDES WI0003204MajorRecent violation
- Tony Village OfTony · 2.5 mi away · NPDES WI0026000Recent violation
- Ladysmith City OfLadysmith · 4.2 mi away · NPDES WI0021326Recent violation
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.
Graded lakes near Dairyland Reservoir
Dairyland Reservoir has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Rusk County
Frequently asked questions about Dairyland Reservoir
Where is Dairyland Reservoir?
- Dairyland Reservoir is a lake in Rusk County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — there is not enough recent sampling to assign a letter.
What is the water quality grade for Dairyland Reservoir?
- Dairyland Reservoir in Rusk County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 1.4 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 70 ft. Surface area: 1870 acres.
Is Dairyland Reservoir safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Dairyland Reservoir 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 Dairyland Reservoir?
- Dairyland Reservoir has a maximum depth of 70 feet. The lake covers 1870 acres.
What fish are in Dairyland Reservoir?
- Fish species found in Dairyland Reservoir include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Sturgeon, Catfish. Dairyland Reservoir is located in Rusk County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Dairyland Reservoir?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Walleye as abundant on Dairyland Reservoir. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Dairyland Reservoir — official chemistry is on file, not a letter. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Does Dairyland Reservoir have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Dairyland Reservoir (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was high (108,643 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Wisconsin's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Dairyland Reservoir?
- Dairyland Reservoir has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Dairyland Reservoir, Dairyland Reservoir, Dairyland Reservoir. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Dairyland Reservoir across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Fish species and best lakes in Rusk County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
8 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_WQX8 samples · 2020
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)
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