Spirit Lake
Spirit Lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 12 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 39 ft. Surface area: 348 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Spirit Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 12 ft
- Max depth
- 39 ft
- Area
- 348 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Spirit Lake is a 348-acre mesotrophic lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 39 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 6 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 66 other monitored lakes in Oneida County, Spirit Lake ranks #29 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2023-11-02. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Good clarity, visible to about 12 ft. Phosphorus level: 11.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 40.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 11.4 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Spirit Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Spirit Lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water.
Top-rated places to stay near Spirit Lake
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Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Spirit Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Spirit Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 4 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2023).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 39 ft |
| Surface Area | 348 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Medicine LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Spirit Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1.467 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -4.65 µg/L/yr | 2 |
EPA Impairment Status
Spirit Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10007441 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #29 of 67 lakes in Oneida County
Nearby Lakes in Oneida County
Frequently asked questions about Spirit Lake
Where is Spirit Lake?
- Spirit Lake is a lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Spirit Lake?
- Spirit Lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 12 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 39 ft. Surface area: 348 acres.
Is Spirit Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Spirit Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Spirit Lake?
- Spirit Lake has a maximum depth of 39 feet. The lake covers 348 acres.
What fish are in Spirit Lake?
- Fish species found in Spirit Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Spirit Lake is located in Oneida County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Spirit Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Spirit Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Spirit Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 4 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Spirit Lake?
- Spirit Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Medicine Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Spirit Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
21 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX21 samples · 2020–2023
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory