Spirit River Flowage Lake
Lincoln County, Wisconsin1,220 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Spirit River Flowage Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- 2 aquatic invasives
- 25 ft max depth
- Public access
Spirit River Flowage Lake in Lincoln County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. 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 →
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. 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Spirit River Flowage Lake covers about 1,200 acres in Lincoln County. It has 6 public boat landings, so a lakefront rental is not the only way to get a boat on the water. If you are planning to stay, you can search lake houses and cabins around Spirit River Flowage Lake on Vrbo, or look for a hotel room near the lake on Booking.com or Expedia.
What Spirit River Flowage Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch6 documented ramps
- Fishing6 species recorded
- Big water1,220 acres
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Spirit River Flowage Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Spirit River Flowage Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Spirit River Flowage Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Spirit River Flowage Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 49.1 µg/L. TSI 61.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 3ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 49.1µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | No reading The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. | |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 61 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Spirit River Flowage Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (63°F) to its warmest (82°F).
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 water quality. LakeQuality shows Spirit River Flowage Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, 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
Max depth
25 ft
Surface area
1,220 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
163 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
17.2 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,430 ft
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
Stays via Stay22
Stays 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 readings cover 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
Prices for Oct 16–18, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip? Cabins and lodging at Spirit River Flowage Lake → · more Wisconsin lake trips
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Spirit River Flowage Lake
- → Spirit River Flowage Lake fishing: DNR survey catch rates, species & stocking
- → Spirit River Flowage Lake fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → Spirit River Flowage Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from Spirit River Flowage Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
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 (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Improving6 years
Phosphorus
Improving-4.86 µg/L/yr6 years
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
Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life, Fish consumption, Recreation.
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.
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. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Spirit River Flowage Lake?
- Spirit River Flowage Lake in Lincoln County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. 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?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Spirit River Flowage Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
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 water quality. LakeQuality shows Spirit River Flowage Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, 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.
Can I fish at Spirit River Flowage Lake?
- Spirit River Flowage Lake has 6 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Wisconsin's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Spirit River Flowage Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest 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 readings
Lakes in the Wisconsin River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Wisconsin's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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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)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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