Long Lake

The LakeGrade rubric puts Long Lake at a C: clarity at 5.0 ft, 28 µg/L of phosphorus, and a TSI of 53 signal an intermediate trophic state. Secchi readings are the weakest of the three parameters, suggesting suspended sediment or algal biomass dominates the optical signal.

Eutrophic conditions are the baseline here: clarity drops noticeably in late summer, and dissolved oxygen near the bottom can become a concern. The lake bottoms out at 44 ft — a moderate depth that supports a warm-water fishery without the year-round cold refuge a deeper basin provides. At 61 acres, Long Lake sits below the Wisconsin median: a small water where shoreline activity has an outsized effect on water quality. Long Lake sits at rank 39 of 74 in Polk County, in the lower half of the local distribution.

An invasive species record — Chinese Mystery Snail — has been logged at Long Lake; Wisconsin DNR maintains the official infested-waters list. The fishery is bass-led, with 3 documented species across the lake's records. 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.