Montana Lake

Montana Lake comes in at a B on the grading rubric — a respectable showing for a Wisconsin lake of its size and depth. Secchi readings are the weakest of the three parameters, suggesting suspended sediment or algal biomass dominates the optical signal.

The lake sits in the mesotrophic zone — the band where most well-managed Wisconsin lakes fall. A maximum depth of 28 ft puts Montana Lake in the middle of Wisconsin's depth distribution. At 143 acres, Montana Lake fits the Wisconsin median for monitored lakes, with partial shoreline records. Montana Lake ranks 16 of 21 in Marinette County — at the lower end of the locally monitored distribution.

Eurasian watermilfoil has been documented at Montana Lake, requiring shoreline management to keep dense mats from crowding native vegetation. Bass fishing is part of the appeal: the species list runs to 3, anchored by largemouth and/or smallmouth bass. Public access is available — the lake is on the Wisconsin DNR public-access list. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.