Eau Claire Lake
Eau Claire Lake in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 88 µg/L. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 870 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.8 ft
- Max depth
- 25 ft
- Area
- 870 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Eau Claire Lake →
Next lake in Eau Claire County
Eau Claire Lake is a 870-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 25 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2024. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 4 public boat landings. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Eau Claire County, Eau Claire Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2024-10-07. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Eau Claire Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyElevated nutrients
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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 2.8 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 88 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 66.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 88 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 66 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Eau Claire Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Eau Claire Lake in Eau Claire 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Eau Claire Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Eau Claire Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 25 ft |
| Surface Area | 870 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Lake Eau Claire - SouthwestPublic
- County Highway SDPublic
- ND CirclePublic
- Lake Eau Claire County ParkPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Eau Claire Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. 12 stations on file (most recent sample 2024).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.25 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -3.09 µg/L/yr | 4 |
EPA Impairment Status
Eau Claire Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5R).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10004681 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 2 lakes in Eau Claire County
Nearby Lakes in Eau Claire County
Frequently asked questions about Eau Claire Lake
What is the water quality grade for Eau Claire Lake?
- Eau Claire Lake in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 88 µg/L. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 870 acres.
Is Eau Claire Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Eau Claire Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Eau Claire Lake?
- Eau Claire Lake has a maximum depth of 25 feet. The lake covers 870 acres.
What fish are in Eau Claire Lake?
- Fish species found in Eau Claire Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye. Eau Claire Lake is located in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Eau Claire Lake?
- Eau Claire Lake has 4 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Eau Claire - Southwest, County Highway SD, ND Circle, Lake Eau Claire County Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Eau Claire Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Eau Claire County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Chippewa River Watershed, ranked by water quality
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Wisconsin's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Eau Claire Lake
Other Grade D Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Compare Eau Claire Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
41 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2021–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX41 samples · 2021–2024
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory