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F

Long Lake

Price County, WisconsinLimited DataEutrophic

On the LakeGrade rubric Long Lake fails the cutoffs — a TSI of 63 and persistent algal pressure put it in the bottom tier. The three sub-grades — clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a — track close together, so no single parameter is dragging the average.

Eutrophic conditions are the baseline here: clarity drops noticeably in late summer, and dissolved oxygen near the bottom can become a concern. At 54 ft of maximum depth, Long Lake stratifies reliably through the summer — the hypolimnion stays cooler and clearer than the surface layer suggests. At 419 acres, Long Lake fits the Wisconsin median for monitored lakes, with partial shoreline records. Within the 27 graded lakes of Price County, Long Lake sits at rank 23, near the bottom of the county list.

Long Lake carries an invasive watermilfoil record — boat-launch decontamination and shoreline care matter more here than at uninfested lakes. Walleye are documented at Long Lake, one of 6 fish species on record for the lake. 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 2020-02-11. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

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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 2.7 ft of visibility. Trophic State Index: 63.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)2.7 ftF
PhosphorusNo data
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)No data
Trophic State Index (TSI)63Eutrophic

High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity

Lake Details

CharacteristicValue
Maximum Depth54 ft
Surface Area419 acres

Fish Species

Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.

→ 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.

Eurasian Water-Milfoil

Water Quality Trend: Declining

Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).

MetricTrendChange/YearYears
Water Clarity Declining-0.065 m/yr3

Location

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County Ranking

Ranked #23 of 27 lakes in Price County

Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles

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

Nearby Lakes in Price County

WI DNR Lake Profile

Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. 2 stations on file (most recent sample 2020).

Fish Species (DNR-rated)

Walleye(Abundant)Musky(Common)Panfish(Common)Largemouth Bass(Present)Smallmouth Bass(Present)Northern Pike(Present)

Reservoir Info (USACE NID)

Long Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Jobes (completed 1934), built primarily for recreation on the ELK; gravity-type dam, 16 ft tall and 285 ft long.

Surface area
1,237 ac
Normal storage
6,200 ac-ft
Max storage
8,000 ac-ft
Drainage area
216 sq mi
Hazard class
High
Owner
Price County

Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI00179 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.49 km)

EPA Impairment Status

Long Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).

Causes of impairment

Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)

Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10003538 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.78 km)

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

Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes

Most recent sample: 2020-02-11

Monitoring stations: 1

Where to stay near Long Lake

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Long Lake in Price County, Wisconsin — live availability and prices for your trip.

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