Murphy Flowage Lake
Murphy Flowage Lake in Rusk County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Phosphorus: 33.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 14 ft. Surface area: 169 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Murphy Flowage Lake. DNR survey details →
- Max depth
- 14 ft
- Area
- 169 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Public access
- Yes
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Murphy Flowage Lake is a 169-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Rusk County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 14 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2022. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Rusk County, Murphy Flowage Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2022-09-24. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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)
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 33.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 55.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 33.4 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 55 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Murphy Flowage Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Murphy Flowage Lake in Rusk 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 Murphy Flowage Lake
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Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Murphy Flowage Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Murphy Flowage Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry. 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 2022).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 14 ft |
| Surface Area | 169 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- MurphyPublic
- Murphy FlowagePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Murphy Flowage 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.
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Murphy Flowage Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Murphy (completed 1994), built primarily for recreation on the Hemlock Creek; earth-type dam, 22 ft tall and 175 ft long.
- Surface area
- 188 ac
- Max storage
- 3,279 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 19.6 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Rusk County
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI01204 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 4 lakes in Rusk County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Murphy Flowage Lake holds Grade C. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Rusk County
Frequently asked questions about Murphy Flowage Lake
Where is Murphy Flowage Lake?
- Murphy Flowage Lake is a lake in Rusk County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Murphy Flowage Lake?
- Murphy Flowage Lake in Rusk County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Phosphorus: 33.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 14 ft. Surface area: 169 acres.
Is Murphy Flowage Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Murphy Flowage Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Murphy Flowage Lake?
- Murphy Flowage Lake has a maximum depth of 14 feet. The lake covers 169 acres.
What fish are in Murphy Flowage Lake?
- Fish species found in Murphy Flowage Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Trout. Murphy Flowage Lake is located in Rusk County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Murphy Flowage Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Murphy Flowage Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Murphy Flowage Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Murphy Flowage Lake?
- Murphy Flowage Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Murphy, Murphy Flowage. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Murphy Flowage Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
9 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX9 samples · 2022
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
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory