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LakeQuality

North Twin Lake

Polk County, Wisconsin129 acresView mapDirections

Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for North Twin Lake. Here is what has been measured.

Phosphorus
10.1 µg/L
Less phosphorus than most
Measured by Wisconsin DNR
Max depth
27 ft
Bathymetric survey
Area
129 acres
Surface area
Type
Oligotrophic
Trophic class
Trend
Stable
6 years of samples
  • Oligotrophic
  • 2 aquatic invasives
  • 27 ft max depth
  • Public access
  • Limited data

North Twin Lake in Polk County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Phosphorus: 10.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 27 ft. Surface area: 129 acres.

Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on North Twin Lake. DNR survey details →

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North Twin Lake is a 129-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Polk County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 27 feet. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 54 other monitored lakes in Polk County, North Twin Lake ranks #8 for water quality.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-08-27. Methodology: how these readings are compared.

What North Twin Lake is good for

From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.

  • Boat launch1 documented ramp
  • Fishing4 species recorded

Swimming conditions

Readings only

Limited data

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. Check local advisories before you swim.

Whether North Twin 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.

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Water quality measurements for North Twin Lake

These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for North Twin Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.

No clarity data. Phosphorus 10.1 µg/L. TSI 37.

Water quality readings
MeasureReadingWhere it sits
Water clarity (Secchi depth)No reading

How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer.

Total phosphorus10.1µg/LGood
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.37Oligotrophic
OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic

Low nutrients, clear water. No reading is a swimming clearance.

Ask about North Twin Lake

Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.

DNR fisheries survey

Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on North Twin Lake.

A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows North Twin Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. 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)

Panfish(Abundant)Largemouth Bass(Common)Northern Pike(Common)Walleye(Present)

Lake Details

Max depth

27 ft

Surface area

129 acres

Public access

Yes

Listed by Wisconsin DNR

Lake Size & Watershed

Watershed (drainage) area

2 sq mi

HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS

Shoreline

2.1 mi

HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS

Elevation

1,050 ft

Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).

Recreation & Access

1
Boat Landings
Yes
Public Access
  • North Twin LakePublic

Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps

Stays via Stay22

Stays near North Twin Lake

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near North Twin Lake in Polk 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 North Twin Lake

Prices for Oct 16–18, 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 North Twin Lake’s readings

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Fish Species

Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.

Fishing North Twin 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.

Chinese Mystery SnailCurly-Leaf PondweedEurasian Water-MilfoilPurple Loosestrife

Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).

  • Water clarity

    Worsening

    5 years

  • Phosphorus

    Improving

    -15.92 µg/L/yr4 years

See year-by-year chart →

Reservoir Info (USACE NID)

North Twin Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Amery (completed 1888), built primarily for recreation on the Apple River; gravity-type dam, 13 ft tall and 190 ft long.

Surface area
639 ac
Normal storage
3,500 ac-ft
Max storage
4,800 ac-ft
Drainage area
134 sq mi
Hazard class
High
Owner
City Of Amery

Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI00172 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.97 km)

Nearby Lakes in Polk County

Frequently asked questions about North Twin Lake

Where is North Twin Lake?

North Twin Lake is a lake in Polk County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.

What is the water quality of North Twin Lake?

North Twin Lake in Polk County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Phosphorus: 10.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 27 ft. Surface area: 129 acres.

Measurements on this page ↑

Is North Twin Lake safe to swim in?

Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.

Swimming on this page ↑

How deep is North Twin Lake?

North Twin Lake has a maximum depth of 27 feet. The lake covers 129 acres.

What fish are in North Twin Lake?

Fish species found in North Twin Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. North Twin Lake is located in Polk County, Wisconsin.

Fish on this page ↑

What did the DNR fisheries survey find at North Twin Lake?

Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on North Twin Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows North Twin Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.

DNR on this page ↑

Are there boat ramps on North Twin Lake?

North Twin Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include North Twin Lake. Public access is listed as yes.

Access on this page ↑

Can I fish at North Twin Lake?

North Twin 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.

Access on this page ↑

Oligotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin

Where this data comes from

3 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.

Collected and reported by

  • Wisconsin Department of Natural ResourcesWIDNR_WQX3 samples · 2025

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

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