Upper Red Lake

Upper Red Lake sits at a C on the grading scale — not impaired, not pristine, with summer measurements that vary year to year. clarity and phosphorus rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.

A TSI in the eutrophic range signals a lake doing what nutrient-loaded waters do — supporting an active algal community at the cost of clear water. The lake bottoms out at 15 ft — a moderate depth that supports a warm-water fishery without the year-round cold refuge a deeper basin provides. Upper Red Lake covers 195 acres alongside partial shoreline records — a mid-sized water that supports a working fishery without being so large that conditions diverge between basins. Within Shawano County's 27 graded lakes, Upper Red Lake ranks 19 — below the local median, though not at the bottom.

Eurasian watermilfoil is established at Upper Red Lake, which can dampen recreational access and pressure the native plant community. Bass fishing is part of the appeal: the species list runs to 6, anchored by largemouth and/or smallmouth bass. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.