Malone Lake

Malone Lake earns an A — water clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate among the best monitored waters in Shawano County. 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.

Trophically, Malone Lake reads as oligotrophic — nutrient-poor, clear, and ecologically more sensitive to disturbance than richer lakes. A maximum depth of 31 ft puts Malone Lake in the middle of Wisconsin's depth distribution. Malone Lake is small — 14 acres alongside partial shoreline records — which makes it sensitive to even modest changes in watershed runoff or recreational pressure. Malone Lake ranks 11 of 27 in Shawano County — solidly in the upper half of the local distribution.

Malone Lake has at least one documented invasive species (Chinese Mystery Snail), so boaters and anglers should observe clean-drain-dry steps when leaving the lake. Bass fishing is part of the appeal: the species list runs to 3, anchored by largemouth and/or smallmouth bass. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.