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Lower Mckenzie Lake

Washburn County, WisconsinMesotrophic

On the LakeGrade rubric, Lower Mckenzie Lake pulls an A: clarity at 11.0 ft and 19 µg/L of phosphorus put it in the top bracket for Wisconsin. Clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.

The lake sits in the mesotrophic zone — the band where most well-managed Wisconsin lakes fall. The lake's maximum depth is not yet documented in state morphometric records — context for its physical structure remains limited. The lake's surface area is not consistently recorded across state datasets — physical context remains partial. Among the 47 graded lakes in Washburn County, Lower Mckenzie Lake sits at rank 12, above the county median.

Lower Mckenzie Lake has no invasive species recorded in Wisconsin state databases as of 2026, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Lower Mckenzie Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-05-28. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

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Swimming Safety

Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae

Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent

Good clarity, visible to about 11 ft. Phosphorus level: 18.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 45.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)11 ftB
Phosphorus18.8 µg/LA
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)No data
Trophic State Index (TSI)45Mesotrophic

Moderate nutrients, good water quality

Water Quality Trend: Declining

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

MetricTrendChange/YearYears
Water Clarity Declining-0.6 m/yr6
Phosphorus Stable+0.32 µg/L/yr6
See year-by-year chart →

Recreation & Access

1
Boat Landings
Yes
Public Access

Location

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County Ranking

Ranked #12 of 47 lakes in Washburn County

Nearby Lakes in Washburn County

Data Sources

Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal

Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards

Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory

Most recent sample: 2026-05-28

Monitoring stations: 1

Where to stay near Lower Mckenzie Lake

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