East Horsehead Lake
Oneida County, WisconsinLimited DataOligotrophic
East Horsehead Lake sits at the top of the Wisconsin DNR grading rubric with an A, a mark reached by the cleanest lakes in Wisconsin. Clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.
Trophically, East Horsehead Lake reads as oligotrophic — nutrient-poor, clear, and ecologically more sensitive to disturbance than richer lakes. East Horsehead Lake reaches 27 ft at its deepest point — typical for Wisconsin mid-sized lakes, with seasonal stratification but limited cold-water refuge. At 191 acres, East Horsehead Lake fits the Wisconsin median for monitored lakes, with partial shoreline records. Among the 140 graded lakes in Oneida County, East Horsehead Lake sits at rank 53, above the county median.
An invasive species record — Chinese Mystery Snail — has been logged at East Horsehead Lake; Wisconsin DNR maintains the official infested-waters list. Walleye are documented at East Horsehead Lake, one of 5 fish species on record for the lake. Public access is available — the lake is on the Wisconsin DNR public-access list. 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 2019-07-10. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Crystal clear, you can see 45.9 ft down. Trophic State Index: 22.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 45.9 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 22 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 27 ft |
| Surface Area | 191 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see all Wisconsin and Minnesota lakes where it is found.
→ Best fishing times for East Horsehead Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from East Horsehead Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ East Horsehead Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
Invasive Species
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.036 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.59 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Recreation & Access
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #53 of 140 lakes in Oneida County
Nearby Lakes in Oneida County
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in Wisconsin
Waukesha County · Clarity: 14.6 ft
Waukesha County · Clarity: 13.8 ft
Walworth County · Clarity: 19 ft
Washington County · Clarity: 12 ft
Kenosha County · Clarity: 10.1 ft
Washington County · Clarity: 12.5 ft
Oligotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2019).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
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: 2019-07-10
Monitoring stations: 1