Virgin Lake

Virgin Lake comes in at a B on the grading rubric — a respectable showing for a Wisconsin lake of its size and depth. Clarity is the limiting factor — phosphorus is reasonable but suspended particles or algal cells keep water transparency below Wisconsin norms.

Mesotrophic conditions dominate at Virgin Lake: enough nutrients for a healthy fishery, not so much that algal blooms become a chronic problem. A maximum depth of 31 ft puts Virgin Lake in the middle of Wisconsin's depth distribution. The lake's 261 acres and partial shoreline records put it in the mid-range bucket — large enough for varied use, small enough that watershed inputs reach the whole basin. Among the 134 graded lakes in Oneida County, Virgin Lake sits at rank 46, above the county median.

Virgin Lake carries an invasive watermilfoil record — boat-launch decontamination and shoreline care matter more here than at uninfested lakes. The fishery includes walleye alongside the lake's other 6 documented species — a notable draw for Wisconsin anglers. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.