Harper Lake

The LakeGrade rubric puts Harper Lake at a C: clarity at 2.8 ft, 28 µg/L of phosphorus, and a TSI of 57 signal an intermediate trophic state. Secchi readings are the weakest of the three parameters, suggesting suspended sediment or algal biomass dominates the optical signal.

At a TSI of 57, Harper Lake reads as eutrophic — nutrient-rich enough that summer algal growth and reduced clarity are expected, not unusual. The lake bottoms out at 19 ft — a moderate depth that supports a warm-water fishery without the year-round cold refuge a deeper basin provides. The lake is compact at 10 acres, with partial shoreline records and little volume to buffer nutrient inputs. Within Langlade County's 33 graded lakes, Harper Lake ranks 23 — below the local median, though not at the bottom.

Harper Lake has no invasive species recorded in Wisconsin state databases as of 2024, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. Bass fishing is part of the appeal: the species list runs to 2, anchored by largemouth and/or smallmouth bass. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.