Little Bearskin Lake

On the LakeGrade rubric, Little Bearskin Lake pulls an A: clarity at 27.2 ft and 23 µg/L of phosphorus put it in the top bracket for Wisconsin. The three sub-grades — clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a — track close together, so no single parameter is dragging the average.

The lake's low TSI puts it in oligotrophic territory — the cleanest of the four trophic classes, but also the most vulnerable to nutrient-driven shifts. Little Bearskin Lake reaches 27 ft at its deepest point — typical for Wisconsin mid-sized lakes, with seasonal stratification but limited cold-water refuge. At 184 acres, Little Bearskin Lake fits the Wisconsin median for monitored lakes, with partial shoreline records. Within Oneida County's 140 graded lakes, Little Bearskin Lake ranks 96 — below the local median, though not at the bottom.

Eurasian watermilfoil is established at Little Bearskin Lake, which can dampen recreational access and pressure the native plant community. Walleye are documented at Little Bearskin Lake, one of 5 fish species on record for the lake. Public access is available — the lake is on the Wisconsin DNR public-access list. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.