Devils Lake

On the LakeGrade rubric, Devils Lake pulls an A: clarity at 34.9 ft and phosphorus readings still being added put it in the top bracket for Wisconsin. Clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.

Trophically, Devils Lake reads as oligotrophic — nutrient-poor, clear, and ecologically more sensitive to disturbance than richer lakes. Devils Lake reaches 47 ft at its deepest point — typical for Wisconsin mid-sized lakes, with seasonal stratification but limited cold-water refuge. At 374 acres, Devils Lake fits the Wisconsin median for monitored lakes, with partial shoreline records. Within Sauk County's 11 graded waters, Devils Lake sits at rank 2, near the top of the local distribution.

Eurasian watermilfoil has been documented at Devils Lake, requiring shoreline management to keep dense mats from crowding native vegetation. The fishery includes walleye alongside the lake's other 6 documented species — a notable draw for Wisconsin anglers. A documented public access point at Devils Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. 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.