Long Lake

On the LakeGrade rubric, Long Lake pulls an A: clarity at 23.5 ft and 25 µg/L of phosphorus put it in the top bracket for Wisconsin. Sub-grades cluster within a single letter of each other, which usually means the lake is in stable trophic balance rather than fighting one specific stressor.

A TSI near 41 places Long Lake in the mesotrophic band — moderate productivity, with seasonal swings between clearer spring water and richer late-summer conditions. A maximum depth of 21 ft puts Long Lake in the middle of Wisconsin's depth distribution. At 353 acres, Long Lake fits the Wisconsin median for monitored lakes, with partial shoreline records. Long Lake ranks 39 of 39 in Florence County — at the lower end of the locally monitored distribution.

An invasive species record — Banded Mystery Snail — has been logged at Long Lake; Wisconsin DNR maintains the official infested-waters list. Bass fishing is part of the appeal: the species list runs to 3, anchored by largemouth and/or smallmouth bass. A documented public access point at Long Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.