Mineral Lake
Ashland County, Wisconsin227 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Mineral Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- 29 ft max depth
- Public access
Mineral Lake in Ashland County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 4.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 28.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 29 ft. Surface area: 227 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Musky as common on Mineral Lake. DNR survey details →
Mineral Lake is a 227-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Ashland County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 29 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Ashland County, Mineral Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-04-30. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Mineral Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing4 species recorded
- Camping1 public campground nearby
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Mineral Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5R) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Mineral Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Mineral Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Mineral Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Murky, only visible to about 4.1 ft. Phosphorus 28.2 µg/L. TSI 54.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 4.1ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 28.2µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | No reading The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. | |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 54 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Mineral Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Mineral Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 71°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 71°F) and coldest in Apr (about 45°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (45°F) to its warmest (71°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 12 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Mineral Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR lists Musky as common on Mineral Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Mineral Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is declining. 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. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
Max depth
29 ft
Surface area
227 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
33 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
4.8 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,378 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Mineral LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Public campgrounds near Mineral Lake
- Mineral Lake0.5 kmReserve
Nearest public campgrounds in the USGS National Map inventory, within about 3 miles. An empty list means USGS records no campground that close, which is not the same as camping being unavailable. Where the source gives an official reservation link, it is used; the cabin and hotel search does not cover campsites. More camping lakes
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Mineral Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Mineral Lake in Ashland 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 Mineral Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Follow Mineral Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Mineral Lake
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 5 years of monitoring (2021–2025).
Water clarity
Worsening4 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+1.55 µg/L/yr5 years
EPA Impairment Status
Mineral Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5R).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life, Recreation.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10008925 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Ashland County
Frequently asked questions about Mineral Lake
Where is Mineral Lake?
- Mineral Lake is a lake in Ashland County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Mineral Lake?
- Mineral Lake in Ashland County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 4.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 28.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 29 ft. Surface area: 227 acres.
Is Mineral Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Mineral Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5R) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Mineral Lake?
- Mineral Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in September, 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 Mineral Lake?
- Mineral Lake has a maximum depth of 29 feet. The lake covers 227 acres.
What fish are in Mineral Lake?
- Fish species found in Mineral Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Walleye. Mineral Lake is located in Ashland County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Mineral Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Musky as common on Mineral Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Mineral Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Mineral Lake?
- Mineral Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Mineral Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Mineral Lake?
- Mineral Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Wisconsin's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Are there campgrounds on Mineral Lake?
- Mineral Lake has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Mineral Lake. This is a location join, not a booking. Cabins and hotels are listed separately; campsite reservations use the official link when the source provides one.
Explore Mineral Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
2 documented falls within 10.9 mi, nearest Copper Falls
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Ashland County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Lake Superior Basin (MN+WI), ranked by water quality
Wisconsin's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Other Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
36 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX36 samples · 2021–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles