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LakeQuality
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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.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)45.9 ftA
PhosphorusNo data
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)No data
Trophic State Index (TSI)22Oligotrophic

Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming

Lake Details

CharacteristicValue
Maximum Depth27 ft
Surface Area191 acres
Public AccessYes

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

Chinese Mystery SnailRusty Crayfish

Water Quality Trend: Improving

Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).

MetricTrendChange/YearYears
Water Clarity Stable-0.036 m/yr7
Phosphorus Improving-0.59 µg/L/yr6
See year-by-year chart →

Recreation & Access

1
Boat Landings
Yes
Public Access

Location

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County Ranking

Ranked #53 of 140 lakes in Oneida County

Nearby Lakes in Oneida County

WI DNR Lake Profile

Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2019).

Fish Species (DNR-rated)

Panfish(Common)Walleye(Common)Musky(Present)Largemouth Bass(Present)Northern Pike(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: 2019-07-10

Monitoring stations: 1