Kathan Lake
Kathan Lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 2.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 29.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 15 ft. Surface area: 214 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Kathan Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 2.7 ft
- Max depth
- 15 ft
- Area
- 214 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Kathan Lake is a 214-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 15 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 66 other monitored lakes in Oneida County, Kathan Lake ranks #54 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-09-21. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Very murky, less than 2.7 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 29.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 58.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 29.8 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 58 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Kathan Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Kathan Lake in Oneida 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Kathan Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Kathan Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Kathan Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 1993. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 15 ft |
| Surface Area | 214 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Chain LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Kathan Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.129 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.3 µg/L/yr | 6 |
County Ranking
Ranked #54 of 67 lakes in Oneida County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Kathan Lake holds Grade C. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Oneida County
Frequently asked questions about Kathan Lake
Where is Kathan Lake?
- Kathan Lake is a lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Kathan Lake?
- Kathan Lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 2.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 29.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 15 ft. Surface area: 214 acres.
Is Kathan Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Kathan Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Kathan Lake?
- Kathan Lake has a maximum depth of 15 feet. The lake covers 214 acres.
What fish are in Kathan Lake?
- Fish species found in Kathan Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Kathan Lake is located in Oneida County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Kathan Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Kathan Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Kathan Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Kathan Lake?
- Kathan Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Chain Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Kathan Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Fish species and best lakes in Oneida County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
39 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX39 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory