Lake Wissota
Lake Wissota in Chippewa County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 76.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 64.4 ft. Surface area: 6148 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Walleye as abundant on Lake Wissota. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 3.5 ft
- Max depth
- 64.4 ft
- Area
- 6,148 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Lake Wissota →
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Lake Wissota is a 6,148-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Chippewa County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 64 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 8 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 6 other monitored lakes in Chippewa County, Lake Wissota ranks #7 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-25. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria A
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Based on E. coli testing, Lake Wissota never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 36 samples across 3 seasons.
This is a historical summary of past testing, not a current condition — bacteria levels change quickly, especially after rain. Always check Wisconsin’s current beach and health-department advisories before swimming.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Murky, only visible to about 3.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 76.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 63.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 76.4 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 63 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Lake Wissota
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Wissota in Chippewa 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 grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Lake Wissota are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Lake Wissota
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Planning a trip? Cabins and lodging at Lake Wissota → · more Wisconsin lake trips
Wisconsin DNR rates Walleye as abundant on Lake Wissota.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Lake Wissota D from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 2 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 1990. 21 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Lake Wissota covering fish populations, stocking, water quality, and management. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- 2024Lake Wissota fisheries survey, 2024Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2024 (PDF)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 64.4 ft |
| Surface Area | 6,148 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- 176th Street BridgePublic
- 197th Street BridgePublic
- Chippewa Rod & Gun ClubSemi-private
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lake Wissota
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 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -2.3 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Wissota is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Wissota (completed 1917), built primarily for hydroelectric on the Chippewa River; gravity-type dam, 68 ft tall and 7,800 ft long.
- Surface area
- 6,212 ac
- Normal storage
- 56,000 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 56,000 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 5,528 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Northern States Power Co
All listed purposes: Hydroelectric;Recreation;Flood Risk Reduction.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI00730 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Wissota is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10004780 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Lake Wissota under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Northern Wisconsin Center For Dev DisabledChippewa Falls · 3.2 mi away · NPDES WI0039144
- Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing CoChippewa Falls · 4.4 mi away · NPDES WI0004316
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #7 of 7 lakes in Chippewa County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Lake Wissota holds Grade D. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Chippewa County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Wissota
Where is Lake Wissota?
- Lake Wissota is a lake in Chippewa County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Lake Wissota?
- Lake Wissota in Chippewa County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 76.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 64.4 ft. Surface area: 6148 acres.
Is Lake Wissota safe to swim in?
- Based on E. coli testing, Lake Wissota never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 36 samples across 3 seasons. That works out to a bacteria swim-safety grade of A — a historical summary of past testing, not a current reading. Lake Wissota has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Bacteria levels can spike quickly after heavy rain, so always check Wisconsin's current beach and health-department advisories before you swim.
How deep is Lake Wissota?
- Lake Wissota has a maximum depth of 64.4 feet. The lake covers 6148 acres.
What fish are in Lake Wissota?
- Fish species found in Lake Wissota include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Sturgeon, Catfish. Lake Wissota is located in Chippewa County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Lake Wissota?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Walleye as abundant on Lake Wissota. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Lake Wissota D from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 2 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 Wissota?
- Lake Wissota has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include 176th Street Bridge, 197th Street Bridge, Chippewa Rod & Gun Club. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Lake Wissota across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Chippewa County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Chippewa River Watershed, ranked by water quality
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Wisconsin's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
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Where this data comes from
109 measurements from 5 monitoring stations, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX109 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (5)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory