Mead Lake
Mead Lake in Clark County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 207 µg/L. Maximum depth: 16 ft. Surface area: 310 acres.
- Clarity
- 2 ft
- Max depth
- 16 ft
- Area
- 310 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Mead Lake →
Next lake in Clark County
Mead Lake is a 310-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Clark County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 16 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-04-20. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyElevated nutrients
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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 207 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 74.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 207 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 74 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Mead Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Mead Lake in Clark 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Mead Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Mead Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 16 ft |
| Surface Area | 310 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- North Mead Lake County ParkPublic
- South Mead Lake County ParkPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Mead 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.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 1996. 6 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.114 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -36.5 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Mead Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Mead (completed 1951), built primarily for recreation on the SOUTH FORK EAU CLAIRE RIVER; earth-type dam, 28 ft tall and 1,600 ft long.
- Surface area
- 320 ac
- Normal storage
- 1,534 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 4,000 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 108.2 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Clark County
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI00067 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Mead Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10004701 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Clark County
Nearby Lakes in Clark County
Frequently asked questions about Mead Lake
What is the water quality grade for Mead Lake?
- Mead Lake in Clark County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 207 µg/L. Maximum depth: 16 ft. Surface area: 310 acres.
Is Mead Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Mead Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Mead Lake?
- Mead Lake has a maximum depth of 16 feet. The lake covers 310 acres.
What fish are in Mead Lake?
- Fish species found in Mead Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye. Mead Lake is located in Clark County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Mead Lake?
- Mead Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include North Mead Lake County Park, South Mead Lake County Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Mead Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Fish species and best lakes in Clark County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
49 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2021–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX49 samples · 2021–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory