Mccullough Lake
Mccullough Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 16.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 27 ft. Surface area: 221 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Mccullough Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 8 ft
- Typical in August
- 71°F
- Max depth
- 27 ft
- Area
- 221 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
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Mccullough Lake is a 221-acre mesotrophic lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 27 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Compared to the 102 other monitored lakes in Vilas County, Mccullough Lake ranks #68 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-08-25. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8 ft. Phosphorus level: 16.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 46.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 16.6 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 46 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Mccullough Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Mccullough Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Mccullough Lake
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Water Temperature
Mccullough Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in Aug (about 71°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 12 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Mccullough Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Mccullough Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Mccullough Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 1990. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 27 ft |
| Surface Area | 221 acres |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Mccullough Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.393 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.6 µg/L/yr | 7 |
EPA Impairment Status
Mccullough Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10007538 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.81 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #68 of 103 lakes in Vilas County
Nearby Lakes in Vilas County
Frequently asked questions about Mccullough Lake
Where is Mccullough Lake?
- Mccullough Lake is a lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Mccullough Lake?
- Mccullough Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 16.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 27 ft. Surface area: 221 acres.
Is Mccullough Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Mccullough Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Mccullough Lake?
- Mccullough Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August, from 12 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Mccullough Lake?
- Mccullough Lake has a maximum depth of 27 feet. The lake covers 221 acres.
What fish are in Mccullough Lake?
- Fish species found in Mccullough Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Mccullough Lake is located in Vilas County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Mccullough Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Mccullough Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Mccullough Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Explore Mccullough Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
23 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX23 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes