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Lake Nancy

Washburn County, WisconsinOligotrophic

On the LakeGrade rubric, Lake Nancy pulls an A: clarity at 47.6 ft and 14 µg/L of phosphorus put it in the top bracket for Wisconsin. Clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.

A TSI value of 32 puts Lake Nancy in the oligotrophic range, where biological productivity stays low and the water column remains clear. A maximum depth of 39 ft puts Lake Nancy in the middle of Wisconsin's depth distribution. Lake Nancy covers 757 acres alongside partial shoreline records — a mid-sized water that supports a working fishery without being so large that conditions diverge between basins. Lake Nancy ranks 24 of 48 in Washburn County — solidly in the upper half of the local distribution.

Eurasian watermilfoil has been documented at Lake Nancy, requiring shoreline management to keep dense mats from crowding native vegetation. The fishery includes walleye alongside the lake's other 6 documented species — a notable draw for Wisconsin anglers. A documented public access point at Lake Nancy 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.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-08-17. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

Swimming Safety

Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae

Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent

Crystal clear, you can see 47.6 ft down. Phosphorus level: 13.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 32.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)47.6 ftA
Phosphorus13.5 µg/LA
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)No data
Trophic State Index (TSI)32Oligotrophic

Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming

Lake Details

CharacteristicValue
Maximum Depth39 ft
Surface Area757 acres
Public AccessYes

Fish Species

Click a species to see all Wisconsin and Minnesota lakes where it is found.

→ Best fishing times for Lake Nancy (14-day solunar calendar)

→ Is it safe to eat fish from Lake Nancy? (mercury & PFAS guide)

Lake Nancy fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)

Invasive Species

Banded Mystery SnailChinese Mystery SnailCurly-Leaf PondweedEurasian Water-MilfoilPurple Loosestrife

Water Quality Trend: Improving

Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).

MetricTrendChange/YearYears
Water Clarity Stable-0.161 m/yr7
Phosphorus Improving-0.62 µg/L/yr6
See year-by-year chart →

Recreation & Access

2
Boat Landings
Yes
Public Access

Location

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County Ranking

Ranked #24 of 48 lakes in Washburn County

Nearby Lakes in Washburn County

WI DNR Lake Profile

Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 2001. 4 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).

DNR Assessment
Excellent · Deep Seepage lake
Trophic State Index 39 (oligotrophic) · 5-year average

Fish Species (DNR-rated)

Panfish(Abundant)Largemouth Bass(Common)Northern Pike(Common)Walleye(Common)Musky(Present)Smallmouth Bass(Present)

Data Sources

Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal

Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards

Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes

Most recent sample: 2025-08-17

Monitoring stations: 2