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C

Deer Lake

Lincoln County, WisconsinLimited DataMesotrophic

Deer Lake sits at a C on the grading scale — not impaired, not pristine, with summer measurements that vary year to year. 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.

Mesotrophic conditions dominate at Deer Lake: enough nutrients for a healthy fishery, not so much that algal blooms become a chronic problem. The lake's maximum depth is not yet documented in state morphometric records — context for its physical structure remains limited. The lake's surface area is not consistently recorded across state datasets — physical context remains partial. Within Lincoln County's 19 graded lakes, Deer Lake ranks 13 — below the local median, though not at the bottom.

No invasive species are currently listed at Deer Lake — the lake remains off the Wisconsin infested-waters roster. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Deer Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2022-05-11. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

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Swimming Safety

Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality

Water Quality Grade: C, Fair

Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 48.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)7.5 ftC
PhosphorusNo data
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)No data
Trophic State Index (TSI)48Mesotrophic

Moderate nutrients, good water quality

Recreation & Access

2
Boat Landings
Yes
Public Access

Location

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County Ranking

Ranked #13 of 19 lakes in Lincoln County

Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles

Deer Lake holds Grade C. 3 nearby lakes hold higher grades.

Nearby Lakes in Lincoln County

Data Sources

Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal

Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards

Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory

Most recent sample: 2022-05-11

Monitoring stations: 1

Where to stay near Deer Lake

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