Mb-2a Cul Lake
Sawyer County, WisconsinLimited DataHypereutrophic
On the LakeGrade rubric Mb-2a Cul Lake fails the cutoffs — a TSI of 82 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.
Hypereutrophic conditions mean the lake is operating at the upper end of the productivity scale, with all the bloom risk that implies. 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. Mb-2a Cul Lake ranks 52 of 52 in Sawyer County — at the lower end of the locally monitored distribution.
No invasive species are currently listed at Mb-2a Cul Lake — the lake remains off the Wisconsin infested-waters roster. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Mb-2a Cul 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 2022-04-29. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Swimming Safety
Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 215 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 82.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No data | |
| Phosphorus | 215 µg/L | F |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 82 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.77 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.11 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #52 of 52 lakes in Sawyer County
Nearby Lakes in Sawyer County
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Wisconsin
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2022-04-29
Monitoring stations: 1