Sams Lake

On the LakeGrade rubric, Sams Lake pulls an A: clarity at 11.0 ft and 18 µg/L of phosphorus put it in the top bracket for Wisconsin. clarity and phosphorus rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.

A TSI near 44 places Sams Lake in the mesotrophic band — moderate productivity, with seasonal swings between clearer spring water and richer late-summer conditions. Sams Lake is a shallow lake at 13 ft maximum depth, which means it warms quickly, mixes constantly, and amplifies nutrient inputs. At 6 acres, Sams Lake sits below the Wisconsin median: a small water where shoreline activity has an outsized effect on water quality. Sams Lake ranks 7 of 27 in Shawano County — solidly in the upper half of the local distribution.

An invasive species record — Chinese Mystery Snail — has been logged at Sams Lake; Wisconsin DNR maintains the official infested-waters list. The fishery is bass-led, with 2 documented species across the lake's records. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.