Eau Claire Lake

Eau Claire Lake pulls a D on the LakeGrade rubric — phosphorus loading and limited clarity hold it below the Wisconsin average. clarity and phosphorus rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.

A TSI in the eutrophic range signals a lake doing what nutrient-loaded waters do — supporting an active algal community at the cost of clear water. Eau Claire Lake reaches 25 ft at its deepest point — typical for Wisconsin mid-sized lakes, with seasonal stratification but limited cold-water refuge. At 870 acres, Eau Claire Lake fits the Wisconsin median for monitored lakes, with partial shoreline records. Within Eau Claire County's 3 graded lakes, Eau Claire Lake ranks 2 — below the local median, though not at the bottom.

An invasive species record — Chinese Mystery Snail — has been logged at Eau Claire Lake; Wisconsin DNR maintains the official infested-waters list. The fishery includes walleye among the lake's 5 documented species — a notable draw for Wisconsin anglers. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.