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Indian Lake

Oneida County, WisconsinMesotrophic

Indian Lake earns an A — water clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate among the best monitored waters in Oneida County. Sub-grades cluster within a single letter of each other, which usually means the lake is in stable trophic balance rather than fighting one specific stressor.

The lake sits in the mesotrophic zone — the band where most well-managed Wisconsin lakes fall. Indian Lake reaches 26 ft at its deepest point — typical for Wisconsin mid-sized lakes, with seasonal stratification but limited cold-water refuge. The lake's 354 acres and partial shoreline records put it in the mid-range bucket — large enough for varied use, small enough that watershed inputs reach the whole basin. Within Oneida County's 134 graded waters, Indian Lake sits at rank 22, near the top of the local distribution.

Indian Lake has at least one documented invasive species (Chinese Mystery Snail), so boaters and anglers should observe clean-drain-dry steps when leaving the lake. The fishery includes walleye alongside the lake's other 6 documented species — a notable draw for Wisconsin anglers. A documented public access point at Indian Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-05-24. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

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Swimming Safety

Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae

Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent

Good clarity, visible to about 11 ft. Phosphorus level: 13.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 42.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)11 ftB
Phosphorus13.8 µg/LA
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)No data
Trophic State Index (TSI)42Mesotrophic

Moderate nutrients, good water quality

Lake Details

CharacteristicValue
Maximum Depth26 ft
Surface Area354 acres
Public AccessYes

Fish Species

Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.

→ Best fishing times for Indian Lake (14-day solunar calendar)

→ Is it safe to eat fish from Indian Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)

Indian Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)

Invasive & Introduced Species

Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.

Chinese Mystery Snail

Water Quality Trend: Declining

Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).

MetricTrendChange/YearYears
Water Clarity Declining-0.371 m/yr6
Phosphorus Stable-0.23 µg/L/yr6
See year-by-year chart →

Recreation & Access

1
Boat Landings
Yes
Public Access

Location

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County Ranking

Ranked #22 of 134 lakes in Oneida County

Nearby Lakes in Oneida County

WI DNR Lake Profile

Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 1986. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).

DNR Assessment
Excellent · Shallow Headwater lake
Trophic State Index 44 (mesotrophic) · 5-year average

Fish Species (DNR-rated)

Panfish(Abundant)Largemouth Bass(Common)Northern Pike(Common)Musky(Present)Smallmouth Bass(Present)Walleye(Present)

EPA Impairment Status

Indian Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).

Causes of impairment

Mercury

Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10007452 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.45 km)

Data Sources

Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal

Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database

Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards

Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes

Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory

Most recent sample: 2026-05-24

Monitoring stations: 1

Where to stay near Indian Lake

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Indian Lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin — live availability and prices for your trip.

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