Van Zile Lake
Van Zile Lake in Forest County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 5.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 19.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 17 ft. Surface area: 78 acres.
- Clarity
- 5.4 ft
- Max depth
- 17 ft
- Area
- 78 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Forest County
Van Zile Lake is a 78-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Forest County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 17 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 22 other monitored lakes in Forest County, Van Zile Lake ranks #16 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-09-01. Grade methodology: LakeGrade 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)
Murky, only visible to about 5.4 ft. Phosphorus level: 19.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 50.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 19.7 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 50 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Van Zile Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Van Zile Lake in Forest 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 Van Zile Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 17 ft |
| Surface Area | 78 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Van Zile LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Van Zile Lake
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 1988. 2 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.16 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.29 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Van Zile 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 WI10007020 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #16 of 23 lakes in Forest County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Van Zile Lake holds Grade B. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Forest County
Frequently asked questions about Van Zile Lake
What is the water quality grade for Van Zile Lake?
- Van Zile Lake in Forest County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 5.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 19.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 17 ft. Surface area: 78 acres.
Is Van Zile Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Van Zile Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Van Zile Lake?
- Van Zile Lake has a maximum depth of 17 feet. The lake covers 78 acres.
What fish are in Van Zile Lake?
- Fish species found in Van Zile Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Van Zile Lake is located in Forest County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Van Zile Lake?
- Van Zile Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Van Zile Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
31 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX31 samples · 2020–2025
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
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