Elsie Lake
Elsie Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 16 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 22 ft. Surface area: 47 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as present on Elsie Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 16 ft
- Typical in August
- 71°F
- Max depth
- 22 ft
- Area
- 47 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
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Why Elsie Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Elsie Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by WI DNR and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Elsie Lake is a 47-acre lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 22 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 2 documented fish species including Panfish and Largemouth Bass.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-07-12. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Watch Elsie Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Elsie Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Crystal clear, you can see 16 ft down. Trophic State Index: 37.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 16 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 37 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Elsie Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Elsie Lake in Vilas 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Elsie Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Elsie Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 71°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 71°F) and coldest in Oct (about 57°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 8 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Elsie Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as present on Elsie Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Elsie Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 2024. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 22 ft |
| Surface Area | 47 acres |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Elsie Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.386 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.26 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Graded lakes near Elsie Lake
Elsie Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Vilas County
Frequently asked questions about Elsie Lake
Where is Elsie Lake?
- Elsie Lake is a lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — there is not enough recent sampling to assign a letter.
What is the water quality grade for Elsie Lake?
- Elsie Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 16 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 22 ft. Surface area: 47 acres.
Is Elsie Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Elsie Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Elsie Lake?
- Elsie Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August, from 8 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Elsie Lake?
- Elsie Lake has a maximum depth of 22 feet. The lake covers 47 acres.
What fish are in Elsie Lake?
- Fish species found in Elsie Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass. Elsie Lake is located in Vilas County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Elsie Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as present on Elsie Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Elsie Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Explore Elsie Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
13 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX13 samples · 2024–2026
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes