Upper Gresham Lake
Upper Gresham Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 11.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 32 ft. Surface area: 362 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Upper Gresham Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 11.3 ft
- Max depth
- 32 ft
- Area
- 362 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
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Upper Gresham Lake is a 362-acre mesotrophic lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 32 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 102 other monitored lakes in Vilas County, Upper Gresham Lake ranks #72 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-17. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Good clarity, visible to about 11.3 ft. Phosphorus level: 13.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 42.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 13.9 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 42 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Upper Gresham Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Upper Gresham 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 Upper Gresham Lake
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Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Upper Gresham Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Upper Gresham Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. 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 1990. 5 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 32 ft |
| Surface Area | 362 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Jag LakePublic
- Upper Gresham LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Public campgrounds near Upper Gresham Lake
- Upper Gresham Lake Campground1.3 km
Nearest public campgrounds in the USGS National Map inventory, within about 3 miles. An empty list means USGS records no campground that close, which is not the same as camping being unavailable. Where the source gives an official reservation link, it is used; the cabin and hotel search does not cover campsites. More camping lakes
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Upper Gresham Lake
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 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.945 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.75 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Upper Gresham 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 WI10003879 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.48 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #72 of 103 lakes in Vilas County
Nearby Lakes in Vilas County
Frequently asked questions about Upper Gresham Lake
Where is Upper Gresham Lake?
- Upper Gresham Lake is a lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Upper Gresham Lake?
- Upper Gresham Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 11.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 32 ft. Surface area: 362 acres.
Is Upper Gresham Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Upper Gresham Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Upper Gresham Lake?
- Upper Gresham Lake has a maximum depth of 32 feet. The lake covers 362 acres.
What fish are in Upper Gresham Lake?
- Fish species found in Upper Gresham Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Upper Gresham Lake is located in Vilas County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Upper Gresham Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Upper Gresham Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Upper Gresham Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Upper Gresham Lake?
- Upper Gresham Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Jag Lake, Upper Gresham Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Are there campgrounds on Upper Gresham Lake?
- Upper Gresham Lake has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Upper Gresham Lake Campground. This is a location join, not a booking. Cabins and hotels are listed separately; campsite reservations use the official link when the source provides one.
Explore Upper Gresham Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Where this data comes from
37 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2021–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX37 samples · 2021–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles