Durphee Lake
Durphee Lake in Sawyer County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 8.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 22 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.1 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 8.1 ft
- Mean depth
- ~11 ft est.
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Sawyer County
Durphee Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Sawyer County, Wisconsin with an estimated average depth of about 11 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 44 other monitored lakes in Sawyer County, Durphee Lake ranks #14 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2024-09-04. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.1 ft. Phosphorus level: 22 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 3.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 46.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 22 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.1 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 46 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Durphee Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Durphee Lake in Sawyer 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.
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Depth | ~11 ft est. |
| Public Access | Yes |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled estimate from HydroLAKES, not a measured survey. Wisconsin has not published bathymetry for Durphee Lake.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Recreation & Access
- Grindstone LakePublic
- DurpheePublic
Fishing Durphee Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.63 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.6 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.09 µg/L/yr | 5 |
EPA Impairment Status
Durphee 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 WI10004082 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.7 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #14 of 45 lakes in Sawyer County
Nearby Lakes in Sawyer County
Frequently asked questions about Durphee Lake
What is the water quality grade for Durphee Lake?
- Durphee Lake in Sawyer County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 8.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 22 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 3.1 µg/L.
Is Durphee Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Durphee Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 3.1 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Durphee Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Durphee Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 11 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
Are there boat ramps on Durphee Lake?
- Durphee Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Grindstone Lake, Durphee. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
76 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Lac Courte Oreilles (Tribal)
LCOWIS_WQX76 samples · 2020–2024
Analytical methods
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 4500 P F ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry Automated Ascorbic Acid Method
- 2320 B ~ Alkalinity by Gran Titration
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus by Ascorbic Acid
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory