Lake Wissota

Lake Wissota earns a C — middle-of-the-pack water quality, with one or two parameters dragging the average down from a stronger grade. Of the three parameters, phosphorus is the worst — at 76 µg/L of phosphorus, it keeps the lake susceptible to algal blooms in warm years.

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. The lake's 64 ft maximum depth is in the upper tier for Wisconsin — deep enough for cold-water fish to find refuge in summer. With 6,148 acres of surface and partial shoreline records, Lake Wissota is a large water by Wisconsin standards — recreational pressure is spread across a long shoreline. Within the 16 graded lakes of Chippewa County, Lake Wissota sits at rank 15, near the bottom of the county list.

Eurasian watermilfoil has been documented at Lake Wissota, requiring shoreline management to keep dense mats from crowding native vegetation. The fishery includes walleye alongside the lake's other 8 documented species — a notable draw for Wisconsin anglers. A documented public access point at Lake Wissota 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.