Osprey Lake
Osprey Lake in Sawyer County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 16 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14.9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 32 ft. Surface area: 214 acres.
- Clarity
- 16 ft
- Max depth
- 32 ft
- Area
- 214 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Sawyer County
Osprey Lake is a 214-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Sawyer County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 32 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 6 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 44 other monitored lakes in Sawyer County, Osprey Lake ranks #11 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2024-09-03. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Osprey Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Crystal clear, you can see 16 ft down. Phosphorus level: 14.9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 1.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 38.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 16 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 14.9 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.4 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 38 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Osprey Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Osprey 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 Osprey Lake
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 →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 32 ft |
| Surface Area | 214 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Osprey LakeSemi-private
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Osprey 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.
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.111 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.51 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.08 µg/L/yr | 5 |
County Ranking
Ranked #11 of 45 lakes in Sawyer County
Nearby Lakes in Sawyer County
Frequently asked questions about Osprey Lake
What is the water quality grade for Osprey Lake?
- Osprey Lake in Sawyer County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 16 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14.9 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 32 ft. Surface area: 214 acres.
Is Osprey Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Osprey Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 1.4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Osprey Lake?
- Osprey Lake has a maximum depth of 32 feet. The lake covers 214 acres.
What fish are in Osprey Lake?
- Fish species found in Osprey Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Osprey Lake is located in Sawyer County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Osprey Lake?
- Osprey Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Osprey Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Osprey Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Sawyer County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Hayward Lakes area
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Chippewa River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Wisconsin's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in Wisconsin
Oligotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
104 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Lac Courte Oreilles (Tribal)
LCOWIS_WQX74 samples · 2020–2024 - Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX30 samples · 2021–2024
Analytical methods
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 4500 P F ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry Automated Ascorbic Acid Method
- 2320 B ~ Alkalinity by Gran Titration
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus by Ascorbic Acid
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
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