Spirit River Flowage Lake
Spirit River Flowage Lake in Lincoln County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 49.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 1220 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Spirit River Flowage Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 3 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Max depth
- 25 ft
- Area
- 1,220 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Spirit River Flowage Lake →
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Spirit River Flowage Lake is a 1,220-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Lincoln County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 25 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2026. 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 6 public boat landings. Compared to the 12 other monitored lakes in Lincoln County, Spirit River Flowage Lake ranks #12 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-05-29. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyElevated nutrients
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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 49.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 61.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 49.1 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 61 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Spirit River Flowage Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Spirit River Flowage Lake in Lincoln 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Spirit River Flowage Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Spirit River Flowage Lake
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Planning a trip? Cabins and lodging at Spirit River Flowage Lake → · more Wisconsin lake trips
Water Temperature
Spirit River Flowage Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 82°F) and coldest in May (about 63°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 13 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Spirit River Flowage Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Spirit River Flowage Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Spirit River Flowage Lake D from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 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. Monitored by volunteers since 2007. 4 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 25 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,220 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Spirit River Flowage - 2Public
- Wisconsin River - Park LanePublic
- Wisconsin River - Herb Mitchell RoadPublic
- Lake MohawksinSemi-private
- Spirit Flowage - 1Semi-private
- Wisconsin RiverSemi-private
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 River Flowage 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 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.539 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -4.86 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Spirit River Flowage Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Spirit (completed 1922), built primarily for hydroelectric on the Spirit River; gravity-type dam, 26 ft tall and 2,530 ft long.
- Surface area
- 1,698 ac
- Max storage
- 15,427 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 158 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Wisconsin Valley Improvement Company
All listed purposes: Hydroelectric;Flood Risk Reduction.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI00749 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.51 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Spirit River Flowage 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 WI10007188 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Spirit River Flowage Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Packaging Corp Of AmericaLincoln County · 0.4 mi away · NPDES WI0002810MajorRecent violation
- Tomahawk City OfBradley · 1.8 mi away · NPDES WI0021946Recent violation
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #12 of 13 lakes in Lincoln County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Spirit River Flowage Lake holds Grade D. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Lincoln County
Frequently asked questions about Spirit River Flowage Lake
Where is Spirit River Flowage Lake?
- Spirit River Flowage Lake is a lake in Lincoln County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Spirit River Flowage Lake?
- Spirit River Flowage Lake in Lincoln County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 49.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 1220 acres.
Is Spirit River Flowage Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Spirit River Flowage Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Spirit River Flowage Lake?
- Spirit River Flowage Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, from 13 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Spirit River Flowage Lake?
- Spirit River Flowage Lake has a maximum depth of 25 feet. The lake covers 1220 acres.
What fish are in Spirit River Flowage Lake?
- Fish species found in Spirit River Flowage Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Spirit River Flowage Lake is located in Lincoln County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Spirit River Flowage Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Spirit River Flowage Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Spirit River Flowage Lake D from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 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 River Flowage Lake?
- Spirit River Flowage Lake has 6 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Spirit River Flowage - 2, Wisconsin River - Park Lane, Wisconsin River - Herb Mitchell Road, Lake Mohawksin, among others. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Spirit River Flowage Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Lincoln County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Wisconsin River Watershed, ranked by water quality
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Wisconsin's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Spirit River Flowage Lake
Other Grade D Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Compare Spirit River Flowage Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
55 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX55 samples · 2020–2026
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
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