Pelican Lake

On the scoring rubric Pelican Lake grades a D: clarity at 5.1 ft and phosphorus readings still being added keep it in the lower bracket for Oneida County. 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.

A TSI in the eutrophic range signals a lake doing what nutrient-loaded waters do — supporting an active algal community at the cost of clear water. The lake bottoms out at 39 ft — a moderate depth that supports a warm-water fishery without the year-round cold refuge a deeper basin provides. With 3,545 acres of surface and partial shoreline records, Pelican Lake is a large water by Wisconsin standards — recreational pressure is spread across a long shoreline. Pelican Lake ranks 112 of 134 in Oneida County — at the lower end of the locally monitored distribution.

Eurasian watermilfoil has been documented at Pelican Lake, requiring shoreline management to keep dense mats from crowding native vegetation. The fishery includes walleye alongside the lake's other 6 documented species — a notable draw for Wisconsin anglers. Public access is available — the lake is on the Wisconsin DNR public-access list. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.