Little Lac Courte Oreilles Lake
Little Lac Courte Oreilles Lake in Sawyer County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 12 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 46 ft. Surface area: 221 acres.
- Clarity
- 12 ft
- Typical in August
- 72°F
- Max depth
- 46 ft
- Area
- 221 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
Next lake in Sawyer County
Little Lac Courte Oreilles Lake is a 221-acre mesotrophic lake in Sawyer County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 46 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 6 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Compared to the 44 other monitored lakes in Sawyer County, Little Lac Courte Oreilles Lake ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2024-09-20. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 12 ft. Phosphorus level: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 1.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 41.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 21 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.5 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Little Lac Courte Oreilles Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Little Lac Courte Oreilles Lake in Sawyer 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.
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Water Temperature
Little Lac Courte Oreilles Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 69°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 72°F) and coldest in Jun (about 66°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 12 field readings (2024–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Little Lac Courte Oreilles Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 46 ft |
| Surface Area | 221 acres |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Little Lac Courte Oreilles 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.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2024).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.393 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.91 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.13 µg/L/yr | 4 |
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 45 lakes in Sawyer County
Nearby Lakes in Sawyer County
Frequently asked questions about Little Lac Courte Oreilles Lake
What is the water quality grade for Little Lac Courte Oreilles Lake?
- Little Lac Courte Oreilles Lake in Sawyer County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 12 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 46 ft. Surface area: 221 acres.
Is Little Lac Courte Oreilles Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Little Lac Courte Oreilles Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 1.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Little Lac Courte Oreilles Lake?
- Little Lac Courte Oreilles Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August, from 12 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Little Lac Courte Oreilles Lake?
- Little Lac Courte Oreilles Lake has a maximum depth of 46 feet. The lake covers 221 acres.
What fish are in Little Lac Courte Oreilles Lake?
- Fish species found in Little Lac Courte Oreilles Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Little Lac Courte Oreilles Lake is located in Sawyer County, Wisconsin.
Explore Little Lac Courte Oreilles Lake across LakeGrade
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
129 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Lac Courte Oreilles (Tribal)
LCOWIS_WQX129 samples · 2020–2024
Analytical methods
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 4500 P F ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry Automated Ascorbic Acid Method
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus by Ascorbic Acid
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes