Stella Lake
Stella Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 27.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 9 ft. Surface area: 95 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Stella Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 5 ft
- Typical in August
- 71°F
- Max depth
- 9 ft
- Area
- 95 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Stella Lake is a 95-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 9 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 102 other monitored lakes in Vilas County, Stella Lake ranks #92 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-10-05. 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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 5 ft. Phosphorus level: 27.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 53.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 27.1 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 53 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Stella Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Stella Lake in Vilas 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 Stella Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Stella Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 72°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 74°F) and coldest in Apr (about 49°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 52 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Stella Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Stella Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Stella Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 3 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 1995. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 9 ft |
| Surface Area | 95 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Stella 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 Stella Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.5 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -5.5 µg/L/yr | 2 |
EPA Impairment Status
Stella 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 WI10026107 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.8 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #92 of 103 lakes in Vilas County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Stella Lake holds Grade C. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Vilas County
Frequently asked questions about Stella Lake
Where is Stella Lake?
- Stella Lake is a lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Stella Lake?
- Stella Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 27.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 9 ft. Surface area: 95 acres.
Is Stella Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Stella Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Stella Lake?
- Stella Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August, from 52 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Stella Lake?
- Stella Lake has a maximum depth of 9 feet. The lake covers 95 acres.
What fish are in Stella Lake?
- Fish species found in Stella Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Stella Lake is located in Vilas County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Stella Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Stella Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Stella Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 3 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Stella Lake?
- Stella Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Stella Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Stella Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
56 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX56 samples · 2023–2025
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