Lake Chetac North Basin
Lake Chetac North Basin in Sawyer County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 56.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 26 ft. Surface area: 2400 acres.
- Max depth
- 26 ft
- Area
- 2,400 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Lake Chetac North Basin →
Next lake in Sawyer County
Lake Chetac North Basin is a 2,400-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Sawyer County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 26 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Smallmouth Bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 44 other monitored lakes in Sawyer County, Lake Chetac North Basin ranks #43 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-22. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Lake Chetac North Basin water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyElevated nutrients
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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 56.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 62.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 56.3 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 62 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Lake Chetac North Basin
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Chetac North Basin in Sawyer 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Lake Chetac North Basin are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Lake Chetac North Basin
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 26 ft |
| Surface Area | 2,400 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Lake ChetacPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lake Chetac North Basin
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 1995. 15 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -4.36 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Chetac North Basin is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5R).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10004641 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.72 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #43 of 45 lakes in Sawyer County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Lake Chetac North Basin holds Grade D. 3 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 Sawyer County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Chetac North Basin
What is the water quality grade for Lake Chetac North Basin?
- Lake Chetac North Basin in Sawyer County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 56.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 26 ft. Surface area: 2400 acres.
Is Lake Chetac North Basin safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Lake Chetac North Basin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Lake Chetac North Basin?
- Lake Chetac North Basin has a maximum depth of 26 feet. The lake covers 2400 acres.
What fish are in Lake Chetac North Basin?
- Fish species found in Lake Chetac North Basin include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Lake Chetac North Basin is located in Sawyer County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Lake Chetac North Basin?
- Lake Chetac North Basin has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Chetac. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Lake Chetac North Basin across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Sawyer County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Hayward Lakes area
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Chippewa River Watershed, ranked by water quality
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Wisconsin's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Compare Lake Chetac North Basin With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
16 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX16 samples · 2020–2026
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
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