Spring Lake
Sawyer County, WisconsinMesotrophic
On the LakeGrade scale Spring Lake grades a B, with clarity at 29.2 ft and 28 µg/L of phosphorus placing it above the Wisconsin median. Clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.
Mesotrophic conditions dominate at Spring Lake: enough nutrients for a healthy fishery, not so much that algal blooms become a chronic problem. A maximum depth of 18 ft puts Spring Lake in the middle of Wisconsin's depth distribution. At 202 acres, Spring Lake fits the Wisconsin median for monitored lakes, with partial shoreline records. Within Sawyer County's 52 graded lakes, Spring Lake ranks 38 — below the local median, though not at the bottom.
No invasive species are currently listed at Spring Lake — the lake remains off the Wisconsin infested-waters roster. Walleye are documented at Spring Lake, one of 4 fish species on record for the lake. A documented public access point at Spring Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. The grade is supported by multiple sampling years from the Wisconsin DNR Citizen Lake Monitoring Network, giving the letter a reasonably stable foundation.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2024-08-31. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Crystal clear, you can see 29.2 ft down. Phosphorus level: 27.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 5.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 42.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 29.2 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | 27.5 µg/L | B |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 5.2 µg/L | B |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 42 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 18 ft |
| Surface Area | 202 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see all Wisconsin and Minnesota lakes where it is found.
→ Best fishing times for Spring Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Spring Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Spring Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.739 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.25 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -1.27 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Recreation & Access
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #38 of 52 lakes in Sawyer County
Nearby Lakes in Sawyer County
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Wisconsin
Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2008).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Spring Lake covering fish populations, stocking, water quality, and management. 9 reports on file.
- 2025Round Lake spring survey, 2025Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2025 (PDF)
- 2025Sissabagama Lake spring survey, 2025Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2025 (PDF)
- 2025Windfall Lake spring survey, 2025Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2025 (PDF)
- 2023Lac Courte Oreilles spring netting survey, 2023Netting Survey · WI DNR · 2023 (PDF)
- 2023Lost Land Lake spring shocking and netting survey, 2023Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2023 (PDF)
- 2023Nelson Lake spring shocking and netting survey, 2023Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2023 (PDF)
- 2023Round Lake spring shocking and netting survey, 2023Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2023 (PDF)
- 2023Teal Lake spring netting and shocking survey, 2023Netting Survey · WI DNR · 2023 (PDF)
- 2023Tiger Cat Chain spring netting and shocking survey, 2023Netting Survey · WI DNR · 2023 (PDF)
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: 2024-08-31
Monitoring stations: 1