Little Lac Courte Lake

On the LakeGrade rubric, Little Lac Courte Lake pulls an A: clarity at 39.7 ft and phosphorus readings still being added put it in the top bracket for Wisconsin. Clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.

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. A maximum depth of 46 ft puts Little Lac Courte Lake in the middle of Wisconsin's depth distribution. At 221 acres, Little Lac Courte Lake fits the Wisconsin median for monitored lakes, with partial shoreline records. Little Lac Courte Lake ranks 16 of 52 in Sawyer County — solidly in the upper half of the local distribution.

Eurasian watermilfoil is established at Little Lac Courte Lake, which can dampen recreational access and pressure the native plant community. The fishery includes walleye alongside the lake's other 6 documented species — a notable draw for Wisconsin anglers. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.