Upper Backwater Lake
Upper Backwater Lake in Jackson County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 3.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 19 ft. Surface area: 24 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Walleye as common on Upper Backwater Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 3.5 ft
- Max depth
- 19 ft
- Area
- 24 acres
- Public access
- Yes
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Why Upper Backwater Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Upper Backwater Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by WI DNR and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Upper Backwater Lake is a 24-acre lake in Jackson County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 19 feet. The lake supports 6 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 5 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2023-08-24. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Upper Backwater Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 3.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 59.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 59 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Upper Backwater Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Upper Backwater Lake in Jackson 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 Upper Backwater Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Wisconsin DNR lists Walleye as common on Upper Backwater Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Upper Backwater Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter. 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. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2023).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Upper Backwater Lake covering fish populations, stocking, water quality, and management. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- 2023Backwater Lakes fisheries survey, 2023Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2023 (PDF)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 19 ft |
| Surface Area | 24 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- West Arbutus County ParkPublic
- East Arbutus ParkPublic
- Russell Memorial ParkPublic
- North ArbutusPublic
- North Arnold CreekPublic
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 Upper Backwater Lake
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
3 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Upper Backwater Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 3 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Hatfield Sanitary DistrictAlma · 0.8 mi away · NPDES WI0036641Recent violation
- Wazee Area Wastewater CommissionBlack River Falls · 4.4 mi away · NPDES WI0036889Recent violation
- Merrillan Wastewater Treatment FacilityMerrillan · 4.9 mi away · NPDES WI0024732Recent 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.
Graded lakes near Upper Backwater Lake
Upper Backwater Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Jackson County
Frequently asked questions about Upper Backwater Lake
Where is Upper Backwater Lake?
- Upper Backwater Lake is a lake in Jackson County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — there is not enough recent sampling to assign a letter.
What is the water quality grade for Upper Backwater Lake?
- Upper Backwater Lake in Jackson County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 3.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 19 ft. Surface area: 24 acres.
Is Upper Backwater Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Upper Backwater Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Upper Backwater Lake?
- Upper Backwater Lake has a maximum depth of 19 feet. The lake covers 24 acres.
What fish are in Upper Backwater Lake?
- Fish species found in Upper Backwater Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Catfish. Upper Backwater Lake is located in Jackson County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Upper Backwater Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Walleye as common on Upper Backwater Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Upper Backwater Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Upper Backwater Lake?
- Upper Backwater Lake has 5 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include West Arbutus County Park, East Arbutus Park, Russell Memorial Park, North Arbutus, among others. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Upper Backwater Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
12 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX12 samples · 2023
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory