Inch Lake
Inch Lake in Bayfield County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 14.1 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 40 ft. Surface area: 31 acres.
- Clarity
- 14.1 ft
- Max depth
- 40 ft
- Area
- 31 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
Next lake in Bayfield County
Why Inch Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: 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 Inch Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). 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.
Inch Lake is a 31-acre lake in Bayfield County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 40 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 2022-07-26. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Inch 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 Inch Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 14.1 ft. Trophic State Index: 39.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 14.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 39 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Inch Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Inch Lake in Bayfield 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.
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 40 ft |
| Surface Area | 31 acres |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Inch Lake
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2022).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1.036 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | 0 µg/L/yr | 7 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Inch Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Murrays (completed 1941), built primarily for recreation on the EAST FORK WHITE; gravity-type dam, 13 ft tall and 34 ft long.
- Surface area
- 650 ac
- Normal storage
- 19,960 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 22,000 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 13 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Bayfield County
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI00103 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.81 km)
Graded lakes near Inch Lake
Inch Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Bayfield County
Frequently asked questions about Inch Lake
What is the water quality grade for Inch Lake?
- Inch Lake in Bayfield County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 14.1 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 40 ft. Surface area: 31 acres.
Is Inch Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Inch Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Inch Lake?
- Inch Lake has a maximum depth of 40 feet. The lake covers 31 acres.
What fish are in Inch Lake?
- Fish species found in Inch Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass. Inch Lake is located in Bayfield County, Wisconsin.
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Where this data comes from
1 measurement from 1 monitoring station, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX1 sample · 2022
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
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes