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D

Kettle Lake

Langlade County, WisconsinLimited DataEutrophic

Kettle Lake pulls a D on the LakeGrade rubric — phosphorus loading and limited clarity hold it below the Wisconsin average. 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.

Eutrophic conditions are the baseline here: clarity drops noticeably in late summer, and dissolved oxygen near the bottom can become a concern. The lake's maximum depth is not yet documented in state morphometric records — context for its physical structure remains limited. The lake's surface area is not consistently recorded across state datasets — physical context remains partial. Within the 33 graded lakes of Langlade County, Kettle Lake sits at rank 32, near the bottom of the county list.

No invasive species are currently listed at Kettle Lake — the lake remains off the Wisconsin infested-waters roster. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Kettle Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. 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 2023-08-04. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

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Swimming Safety

Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk

Water Quality Grade: D, Poor

Murky, only visible to about 4.8 ft. Trophic State Index: 55.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)4.8 ftD
PhosphorusNo data
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)No data
Trophic State Index (TSI)55Eutrophic

High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity

Location

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County Ranking

Ranked #32 of 33 lakes in Langlade County

Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles

Kettle Lake holds Grade D. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.

Nearby Lakes in Langlade County

EPA Impairment Status

Kettle 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 WI10026686 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.11 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

Most recent sample: 2023-08-04

Monitoring stations: 1

Where to stay near Kettle Lake

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

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