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Deadman Lake

Oconto County, WisconsinOligotrophic

On the LakeGrade rubric, Deadman Lake pulls an A: clarity at 14.1 ft and 10 µg/L of phosphorus put it in the top bracket for Wisconsin. Sub-grades cluster within a single letter of each other, which usually means the lake is in stable trophic balance rather than fighting one specific stressor.

A TSI value of 38 puts Deadman Lake in the oligotrophic range, where biological productivity stays low and the water column remains clear. A maximum depth of 45 ft puts Deadman Lake in the middle of Wisconsin's depth distribution. Deadman Lake is small — 35 acres alongside partial shoreline records — which makes it sensitive to even modest changes in watershed runoff or recreational pressure. Deadman Lake ranks 30 of 62 in Oconto County — solidly in the upper half of the local distribution.

Deadman Lake has no invasive species recorded in Wisconsin state databases as of 2024, 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 2024-10-26. 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 14.1 ft. Phosphorus level: 9.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 38.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)14.1 ftB
Phosphorus9.7 µg/LA
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)No data
Trophic State Index (TSI)38Oligotrophic

Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming

Lake Details

CharacteristicValue
Maximum Depth45 ft
Surface Area35 acres

Fish Species

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

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

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

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

Water Quality Trend: Declining

Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).

MetricTrendChange/YearYears
Water Clarity Declining-4.13 m/yr2

Location

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County Ranking

Ranked #30 of 62 lakes in Oconto County

Nearby Lakes in Oconto County

WI DNR Lake Profile

Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 2014. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).

Fish Species (DNR-rated)

Panfish(Common)Largemouth Bass(Present)

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: 2024-10-26

Monitoring stations: 1

Where to stay near Deadman Lake

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