Upper Red Lake
Upper Red Lake in Shawano County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 39.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 15 ft. Surface area: 195 acres.
- Clarity
- 7.5 ft
- Max depth
- 15 ft
- Area
- 195 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Shawano County
Upper Red Lake is a 195-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Shawano County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 15 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 6 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 4 public boat landings. Compared to the 20 other monitored lakes in Shawano County, Upper Red Lake ranks #18 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2022-07-17. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Upper Red Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
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)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 39.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 53.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 39.2 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 Upper Red Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Upper Red Lake in Shawano 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 Red Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 15 ft |
| Surface Area | 195 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Gresham Riverside ParkPublic
- Upper Red LakePublic
- Lower Red LakePublic
- Gresham Lions Club ParkSemi-private
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Upper Red 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.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. 2 stations on file (most recent sample 2022).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.096 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.96 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | → Stable | 0 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Upper Red Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Gresham Wastewater Treatment FacilityGresham · 1.6 mi away · NPDES WI0022781Recent 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.
County Ranking
Ranked #18 of 21 lakes in Shawano County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Upper Red 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 Shawano County
Frequently asked questions about Upper Red Lake
What is the water quality grade for Upper Red Lake?
- Upper Red Lake in Shawano County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 39.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 15 ft. Surface area: 195 acres.
Is Upper Red Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Upper Red Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Upper Red Lake?
- Upper Red Lake has a maximum depth of 15 feet. The lake covers 195 acres.
What fish are in Upper Red Lake?
- Fish species found in Upper Red Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Trout. Upper Red Lake is located in Shawano County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Upper Red Lake?
- Upper Red Lake has 4 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Gresham Riverside Park, Upper Red Lake, Lower Red Lake, Gresham Lions Club Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Upper Red Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Shawano County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Wolf River Watershed, ranked by water quality
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Wisconsin's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
9 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX9 samples · 2022
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
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