Planting Ground Lake

On the LakeGrade rubric, Planting Ground Lake pulls an A: clarity at 17.2 ft and phosphorus readings still being added put it in the top bracket for Wisconsin. 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.

The lake's low TSI puts it in oligotrophic territory — the cleanest of the four trophic classes, but also the most vulnerable to nutrient-driven shifts. A maximum depth of 37 ft puts Planting Ground Lake in the middle of Wisconsin's depth distribution. Planting Ground Lake covers 1,010 acres alongside partial shoreline records, large enough that conditions can vary meaningfully between bays. Within Oneida County's 140 graded waters, Planting Ground Lake sits at rank 9, near the top of the local distribution.

Planting Ground Lake has at least one documented invasive species (Chinese Mystery Snail), so boaters and anglers should observe clean-drain-dry steps when leaving the lake. 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.