Lac Vieux Desert Lake

The LakeGrade rubric puts Lac Vieux Desert Lake at a C: clarity at 5.7 ft, 28 µg/L of phosphorus, and a TSI of 52 signal an intermediate trophic state. Clarity is the limiting factor — phosphorus is reasonable but suspended particles or algal cells keep water transparency below Wisconsin norms.

At a TSI of 52, Lac Vieux Desert Lake reads as eutrophic — nutrient-rich enough that summer algal growth and reduced clarity are expected, not unusual. Lac Vieux Desert Lake reaches 38 ft at its deepest point — typical for Wisconsin mid-sized lakes, with seasonal stratification but limited cold-water refuge. With 4,017 acres of surface and partial shoreline records, Lac Vieux Desert Lake is a large water by Wisconsin standards — recreational pressure is spread across a long shoreline. Within the 202 graded lakes of Vilas County, Lac Vieux Desert Lake sits at rank 197, near the bottom of the county list.

Lac Vieux Desert Lake carries an invasive watermilfoil record — boat-launch decontamination and shoreline care matter more here than at uninfested lakes. Walleye are documented at Lac Vieux Desert Lake, one of 6 fish species on record for the lake. A documented public access point at Lac Vieux Desert Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.