Lake Chetac

Lake Chetac earns a D — measurements through 2025 show persistent nutrient pressure that limits clarity through the summer. Clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.

A TSI in the eutrophic range signals a lake doing what nutrient-loaded waters do — supporting an active algal community at the cost of clear water. Lake Chetac reaches 26 ft at its deepest point — typical for Wisconsin mid-sized lakes, with seasonal stratification but limited cold-water refuge. Lake Chetac covers 2,400 acres alongside partial shoreline records, large enough that conditions can vary meaningfully between bays. Lake Chetac ranks 51 of 52 in Sawyer County — at the lower end of the locally monitored distribution.

An invasive species record — Banded Mystery Snail — has been logged at Lake Chetac; Wisconsin DNR maintains the official infested-waters list. Walleye are documented at Lake Chetac, one of 5 fish species on record for the lake. A documented public access point at Lake Chetac 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.