Little Fork Lake
Little Fork Lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 34 ft. Surface area: 336 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Musky as common on Little Fork Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 6 ft
- Typical in July
- 65°F
- Max depth
- 34 ft
- Area
- 336 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
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Little Fork Lake is a 336-acre mesotrophic lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 34 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 6 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Compared to the 66 other monitored lakes in Oneida County, Little Fork Lake ranks #50 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-03-03. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Murky, only visible to about 6 ft. Phosphorus level: 21.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 50.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 21.2 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 50 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Little Fork Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Little Fork Lake in Oneida 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Little Fork Lake
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Water Temperature
Little Fork Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in July. Summer average is about 65°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 65°F) and coldest in Mar (about 38°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 11 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Little Fork Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR lists Musky as common on Little Fork Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Little Fork Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is declining. 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. 2 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 34 ft |
| Surface Area | 336 acres |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Little Fork Lake
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: ↓ Declining
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.246 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.3 µg/L/yr | 2 |
EPA Impairment Status
Little Fork Lake 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 WI10007338 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #50 of 67 lakes in Oneida County
Nearby Lakes in Oneida County
Frequently asked questions about Little Fork Lake
Where is Little Fork Lake?
- Little Fork Lake is a lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Little Fork Lake?
- Little Fork Lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 34 ft. Surface area: 336 acres.
Is Little Fork Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Little Fork Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Little Fork Lake?
- Little Fork Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in July, from 11 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Little Fork Lake?
- Little Fork Lake has a maximum depth of 34 feet. The lake covers 336 acres.
What fish are in Little Fork Lake?
- Fish species found in Little Fork Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Little Fork Lake is located in Oneida County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Little Fork Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Musky as common on Little Fork Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Little Fork Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
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Where this data comes from
18 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX18 samples · 2024–2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes