Escanaba Lake

Escanaba Lake earns an A — water clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate among the best monitored waters in Vilas County. The three sub-grades — clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a — track close together, so no single parameter is dragging the average.

Trophically, Escanaba Lake reads as oligotrophic — nutrient-poor, clear, and ecologically more sensitive to disturbance than richer lakes. A maximum depth of 26 ft puts Escanaba Lake in the middle of Wisconsin's depth distribution. Escanaba Lake covers 303 acres alongside partial shoreline records — a mid-sized water that supports a working fishery without being so large that conditions diverge between basins. Escanaba Lake ranks 71 of 202 in Vilas County — solidly in the upper half of the local distribution.

No invasive species are currently listed at Escanaba Lake — the lake remains off the Wisconsin infested-waters roster. The fishery includes walleye alongside the lake's other 5 documented species — a notable draw for Wisconsin anglers. Public access is available — the lake is on the Wisconsin DNR public-access list. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.