Kelly Lake
Kelly Lake in Bayfield County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 14.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 17 ft. Surface area: 56 acres.
- Clarity
- 14.5 ft
- Max depth
- 17 ft
- Area
- 56 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
Next lake in Bayfield County
Why Kelly 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 Kelly Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. 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.
Kelly Lake is a 56-acre lake in Bayfield County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 17 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Walleye.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-08-02. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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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 Kelly Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 14.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 39.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 14.5 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 Kelly Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Kelly 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Kelly Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 17 ft |
| Surface Area | 56 acres |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Kelly Lake
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 1998. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.476 m/yr | 5 |
Graded lakes near Kelly Lake
Kelly Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Bayfield County
Frequently asked questions about Kelly Lake
What is the water quality grade for Kelly Lake?
- Kelly Lake in Bayfield County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 14.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 17 ft. Surface area: 56 acres.
Is Kelly Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Kelly 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 Kelly Lake?
- Kelly Lake has a maximum depth of 17 feet. The lake covers 56 acres.
What fish are in Kelly Lake?
- Fish species found in Kelly Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Walleye. Kelly Lake is located in Bayfield County, Wisconsin.
Explore Kelly Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
28 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_WQX28 samples · 2020–2025
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