Lake Wisconsin Whalen'S Grade

Lake Wisconsin Whalen'S Grade earns an F: phosphorus readings still being added and clarity at 2.0 ft signal heavy nutrient loading from the surrounding watershed.

At a TSI of 67, Lake Wisconsin Whalen'S Grade reads as eutrophic — nutrient-rich enough that summer algal growth and reduced clarity are expected, not unusual. A maximum depth of 24 ft puts Lake Wisconsin Whalen'S Grade in the middle of Wisconsin's depth distribution. Lake Wisconsin Whalen'S Grade covers 7,197 acres alongside partial shoreline records, large enough that conditions can vary meaningfully between bays. Lake Wisconsin Whalen'S Grade ranks 9 of 10 in Columbia County — at the lower end of the locally monitored distribution.

Zebra mussels have been documented at Lake Wisconsin Whalen'S Grade, which alters the filter-feeding balance and can paradoxically increase water clarity while disrupting the food web. The fishery includes walleye among the lake's 7 documented species — a notable draw for Wisconsin anglers. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.