Lake Chetac
Sawyer County, Wisconsin2,400 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Lake Chetac. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- 2 aquatic invasives
- 26 ft max depth
- Public access
Lake Chetac in Sawyer County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Phosphorus: 56.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 26 ft. Surface area: 2400 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike as abundant on Lake Chetac. DNR survey details →
Lake Chetac is a 2,400-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Sawyer County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 26 feet. 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 ranks #43 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-22. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Lake Chetac is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing5 species recorded
- Big water2,400 acres
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Lake Chetac is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5R) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Lake Chetac is safe to swim in today is a call for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Lake Chetac
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Lake Chetac, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
No clarity data. Phosphorus 56.3 µg/L. TSI 62.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | No reading How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. | |
| Total phosphorus | 56.3µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | No reading The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. | |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 62 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Lake Chetac
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike as abundant on Lake Chetac.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Lake Chetac’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 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 1995. 15 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
Max depth
26 ft
Surface area
2,400 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Recreation & Access
- Lake ChetacPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Lake Chetac
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Chetac 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 readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Lake Chetac are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Lake Chetac
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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 →
Follow Lake Chetac’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lake Chetac
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 6 years of monitoring (2020–2026).
Phosphorus
Improving-4.36 µg/L/yr6 years
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Chetac is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5R).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life, Recreation.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10004641 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Sawyer County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Chetac
Where is Lake Chetac?
- Lake Chetac is a lake in Sawyer County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Lake Chetac?
- Lake Chetac in Sawyer County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Phosphorus: 56.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 26 ft. Surface area: 2400 acres.
Is Lake Chetac safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Lake Chetac is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5R) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Lake Chetac?
- Lake Chetac has a maximum depth of 26 feet. The lake covers 2400 acres.
What fish are in Lake Chetac?
- Fish species found in Lake Chetac include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Lake Chetac is located in Sawyer County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Lake Chetac?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike as abundant on Lake Chetac. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Lake Chetac’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Lake Chetac?
- Lake Chetac has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Chetac. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Lake Chetac?
- Lake Chetac has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Wisconsin's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Lake Chetac across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Fish species and best lakes in Sawyer County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its readings
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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)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory