Moss Lake West Deep

Moss Lake West Deep sits at a C on the grading scale — not impaired, not pristine, with summer measurements that vary year to year. Sub-grades cluster within a single letter of each other, which usually means the lake is in stable trophic balance rather than fighting one specific stressor.

Mesotrophic conditions dominate at Moss Lake West Deep: enough nutrients for a healthy fishery, not so much that algal blooms become a chronic problem. Moss Lake West Deep reaches 29 ft at its deepest point — typical for Wisconsin mid-sized lakes, with seasonal stratification but limited cold-water refuge. Moss Lake West Deep covers 185 acres alongside partial shoreline records — a mid-sized water that supports a working fishery without being so large that conditions diverge between basins. Within the 191 graded lakes of Vilas County, Moss Lake West Deep sits at rank 146, near the bottom of the county list.

An invasive species record — Purple Loosestrife — has been logged at Moss Lake West Deep; Wisconsin DNR maintains the official infested-waters list. The fishery includes walleye alongside the lake's other 6 documented species — a notable draw for Wisconsin anglers. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.