Escanaba Lake

On the LakeGrade scale Escanaba Lake grades a B, with clarity at 9.5 ft and 19 µg/L of phosphorus placing it above the Wisconsin median. Clarity is the limiting factor — phosphorus is reasonable but suspended particles or algal cells keep water transparency below Wisconsin norms.

A TSI near 46 places Escanaba Lake in the mesotrophic band — moderate productivity, with seasonal swings between clearer spring water and richer late-summer conditions. 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. Within Vilas County's 191 graded lakes, Escanaba Lake ranks 114 — below the local median, though not at the bottom.

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.