Echo Lake
Iron County, WisconsinMesotrophic
Echo Lake carries a solid B grade — strong on most parameters, with measurements that hold up well across the summer season. The lake's weakest score is on Secchi depth — the water looks more turbid than its phosphorus number alone would predict.
A TSI near 49 places Echo Lake in the mesotrophic band — moderate productivity, with seasonal swings between clearer spring water and richer late-summer conditions. The lake's maximum depth is not yet documented in state morphometric records — context for its physical structure remains limited. The lake's surface area is not consistently recorded across state datasets — physical context remains partial. Echo Lake sits at rank 17 of 33 in Iron County, in the lower half of the local distribution.
No invasive species are currently listed at Echo Lake — the lake remains off the Wisconsin infested-waters roster. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Echo Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. 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 2025-08-23. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Echo Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Murky, only visible to about 6 ft. Phosphorus level: 19.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 49.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | 19.3 µg/L | A |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.736 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.75 µg/L/yr | 7 |
Recreation & Access
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #17 of 33 lakes in Iron County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Echo Lake holds Grade B. 3 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- AGrand Portage LakeIron County · mi · Higher grade (B → A)
- AMercer LakeIron County · mi · Higher grade (B → A)
- BSpider LakeIron County · mi · Higher overall water quality score
Nearby Lakes in Iron County
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Wisconsin
Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Echo Lake covering fish populations, stocking, water quality, and management. 1 report on file.
- 2024Echo Lake late spring netting survey, 2024Netting Survey · WI DNR · 2024 (PDF)
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2025-08-23
Monitoring stations: 2
Where to stay near Echo Lake
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