Moose Lake
Moose Lake in Sawyer County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 28.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 21 ft. Surface area: 1559 acres.
- Clarity
- 2 ft
- Typical in July
- 77°F
- Max depth
- 21 ft
- Area
- 1,559 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Sawyer County
Moose Lake is a 1,559-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Sawyer County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 21 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 44 other monitored lakes in Sawyer County, Moose Lake ranks #36 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-08-25. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Very murky, less than 2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 28.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 60.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 28.9 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 60 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Moose Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Moose Lake in Sawyer 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 Moose Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Moose Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in July. Summer average is about 76°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in Sep (about 69°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 8 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Moose Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 21 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,559 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Teal River FlowagePublic
- Moose LakePublic
- Moose LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Moose Lake
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 1995. 2 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.2 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.44 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Moose Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Moose Lake 1 (completed 1897), built primarily for recreation on the WEST FORK CHIPPEWA; gravity-type dam, 23 ft tall and 840 ft long.
- Surface area
- 1,670 ac
- Normal storage
- 12,500 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 27,500 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 225 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Xcel Energy
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI00195 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.61 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Moose 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 WI10026667 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #36 of 45 lakes in Sawyer County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Moose Lake holds Grade C. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Sawyer County
Frequently asked questions about Moose Lake
What is the water quality grade for Moose Lake?
- Moose Lake in Sawyer County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 28.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 21 ft. Surface area: 1559 acres.
Is Moose Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Moose Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Moose Lake?
- Moose Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in July, from 8 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Moose Lake?
- Moose Lake has a maximum depth of 21 feet. The lake covers 1559 acres.
What fish are in Moose Lake?
- Fish species found in Moose Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye. Moose Lake is located in Sawyer County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Moose Lake?
- Moose Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Teal River Flowage, Moose Lake, Moose Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Moose Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Sawyer County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Chippewa River Watershed, ranked by water quality
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Wisconsin's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
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Sawyer County · Grade A
Where this data comes from
29 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_WQX29 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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory