Swede Lake
Polk County, WisconsinLimited DataMesotrophic
Swede Lake carries a solid B grade — strong on most parameters, with measurements that hold up well across the summer season. Clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.
A TSI near 40 places Swede Lake in the mesotrophic band — moderate productivity, with seasonal swings between clearer spring water and richer late-summer conditions. A maximum depth of 32 ft puts Swede Lake in the middle of Wisconsin's depth distribution. At 66 acres, Swede Lake sits below the Wisconsin median: a small water where shoreline activity has an outsized effect on water quality. Within Polk County's 74 graded waters, Swede Lake sits at rank 17, near the top of the local distribution.
An invasive species record — Chinese Mystery Snail — has been logged at Swede Lake; Wisconsin DNR maintains the official infested-waters list. Bass fishing is part of the appeal: the species list runs to 2, anchored by largemouth and/or smallmouth bass. A documented public access point at Swede Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2022-08-26. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Good clarity, visible to about 13 ft. Trophic State Index: 40.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13 ft | B |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 32 ft |
| Surface Area | 66 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
→ Best fishing times for Swede Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Swede Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Swede Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
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: → Stable
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.126 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | 0 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Recreation & Access
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #17 of 74 lakes in Polk County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Swede Lake holds Grade B. 5 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
Nearby Lakes in Polk County
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Swede Lake
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 2022).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
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
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2022-08-26
Monitoring stations: 1
Where to stay near Swede Lake
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