Seven Island Lake
Lincoln County, WisconsinOligotrophic
Seven Island Lake sits at the top of the Wisconsin DNR grading rubric with an A, a mark reached by the cleanest lakes in Wisconsin. The three sub-grades — clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a — track close together, so no single parameter is dragging the average.
A TSI value of 30 puts Seven Island Lake in the oligotrophic range, where biological productivity stays low and the water column remains clear. Seven Island Lake reaches 31 ft at its deepest point — typical for Wisconsin mid-sized lakes, with seasonal stratification but limited cold-water refuge. The lake's 132 acres and partial shoreline records put it in the mid-range bucket — large enough for varied use, small enough that watershed inputs reach the whole basin. Among the 21 graded lakes in Lincoln County, Seven Island Lake sits at rank 9, above the county median.
Eurasian watermilfoil has been documented at Seven Island Lake, requiring shoreline management to keep dense mats from crowding native vegetation. Walleye are documented at Seven Island Lake, one of 5 fish species on record for the lake. A documented public access point at Seven Island Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. 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 2025-08-31. 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 45.9 ft down. Phosphorus level: 9.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 30.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 45.9 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | 9.9 µg/L | A |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 30 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 31 ft |
| Surface Area | 132 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see all Wisconsin and Minnesota lakes where it is found.
→ Best fishing times for Seven Island Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Seven Island Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Seven Island Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
Invasive Species
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.275 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.61 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Recreation & Access
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #9 of 21 lakes in Lincoln County
Nearby Lakes in Lincoln County
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Seven Island Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Wisconsin
Waukesha County · Clarity: 14.6 ft
Waukesha County · Clarity: 13.8 ft
Walworth County · Clarity: 19 ft
Washington County · Clarity: 12 ft
Kenosha County · Clarity: 10.1 ft
Washington County · Clarity: 12.5 ft
Oligotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 1993. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Most recent sample: 2025-08-31
Monitoring stations: 1