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LakeQuality
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Sealion Lake

Florence County, WisconsinLimited DataOligotrophic

On the LakeGrade rubric, Sealion Lake pulls an A: clarity at 84.0 ft and phosphorus readings still being added put it in the top bracket for Wisconsin. Clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.

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. The lake's maximum depth is not yet documented in state morphometric records — context for its physical structure remains limited. The lake's surface area is not consistently recorded across state datasets — physical context remains partial. Within Florence County's 39 graded lakes, Sealion Lake ranks 29 — below the local median, though not at the bottom.

No invasive species are currently listed at Sealion Lake — the lake remains off the Wisconsin infested-waters roster. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Sealion Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2022-07-08. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

Swimming Safety

Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae

Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent

Crystal clear, you can see 84 ft down. Trophic State Index: 13.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)84 ftA
PhosphorusNo data
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)No data
Trophic State Index (TSI)13Oligotrophic

Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming

Water Quality Trend: Declining

Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).

MetricTrendChange/YearYears
Water Clarity Declining-0.786 m/yr6
Phosphorus Declining+3 µg/L/yr3
See year-by-year chart →

Location

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County Ranking

Ranked #29 of 39 lakes in Florence County

Nearby Lakes in Florence County

Data Sources

Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal

Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards

Most recent sample: 2022-07-08

Monitoring stations: 1