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F

Long Lake

Manitowoc County, WisconsinEutrophic

On the LakeGrade rubric Long Lake fails the cutoffs — a TSI of 68 and persistent algal pressure put it in the bottom tier. The two scored sub-grades — clarity and phosphorus — track close together, so neither one is dragging the average down.

At a TSI of 68, Long Lake reads as eutrophic — nutrient-rich enough that summer algal growth and reduced clarity are expected, not unusual. A maximum depth of 38 ft puts Long Lake in the middle of Wisconsin's depth distribution. The lake's 119 acres and partial shoreline records put it in the mid-range bucket — large enough for varied use, small enough that watershed inputs reach the whole basin. Within the 18 graded lakes of Manitowoc County, Long Lake sits at rank 18, near the bottom of the county list.

Eurasian watermilfoil is established at Long Lake, which can dampen recreational access and pressure the native plant community. The fishery is bass-led, with 3 documented species across the lake's records. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-08-25. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

Reviewed by LakeQuality Editorial Team · Updated

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Swimming Safety

Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins

Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor

Very murky, less than 1.9 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 90.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 68.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)1.9 ftF
Phosphorus90.4 µg/LF
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)No data
Trophic State Index (TSI)68Eutrophic

High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity

Lake Details

CharacteristicValue
Maximum Depth38 ft
Surface Area119 acres

Fish Species

Click a species to see all Wisconsin and Minnesota lakes where it is found.

→ Best fishing times for Long Lake (14-day solunar calendar)

→ Is it safe to eat fish from Long Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)

Long Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)

Invasive & Introduced Species

Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.

Curly-Leaf PondweedEurasian Water-MilfoilPurple Loosestrife

Water Quality Trend: Improving

Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).

MetricTrendChange/YearYears
Water Clarity Improving+0.116 m/yr6
Phosphorus Improving-2.85 µg/L/yr6
See year-by-year chart →

Location

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County Ranking

Ranked #18 of 18 lakes in Manitowoc County

Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles

Long Lake holds Grade F. 5 nearby lakes hold higher grades.

See full comparison →

Nearby Lakes in Manitowoc County

WI DNR Lake Profile

Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 1992. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).

DNR Assessment
Poor · Deep Headwater lake
Trophic State Index 73 (hypereutrophic) · 5-year average

Fish Species (DNR-rated)

Panfish(Common)Largemouth Bass(Common)Northern Pike(Common)

DNR Reports & Resources

Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Long Lake covering fish populations, stocking, water quality, and management. 1 report on file.

EPA Impairment Status

Long Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).

Causes of impairment

Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)

A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.

Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10006082 · Official waterbody report

Data Sources

Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal

Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database

Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards

Most recent sample: 2025-08-25

Monitoring stations: 1