Walsh Lake
Walsh Lake in Forest County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 10 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 15 ft. Surface area: 45 acres.
- Clarity
- 10 ft
- Max depth
- 15 ft
- Area
- 45 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
Next lake in Forest County
Why Walsh Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Walsh Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by WI DNR and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Walsh Lake is a 45-acre lake in Forest County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 15 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 1 documented fish species including Panfish.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2021-08-22. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Walsh Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 10 ft. Trophic State Index: 44.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 44 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Walsh Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Walsh 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 Walsh Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 15 ft |
| Surface Area | 45 acres |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Walsh Lake
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2021).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.243 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.95 µg/L/yr | 3 |
EPA Impairment Status
Walsh 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 WI10000612 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.73 km)
Graded lakes near Walsh Lake
Walsh Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Forest County
Frequently asked questions about Walsh Lake
What is the water quality grade for Walsh Lake?
- Walsh Lake in Forest County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 10 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 15 ft. Surface area: 45 acres.
Is Walsh Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Walsh Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Walsh Lake?
- Walsh Lake has a maximum depth of 15 feet. The lake covers 45 acres.
What fish are in Walsh Lake?
- Fish species found in Walsh Lake include Panfish. Walsh Lake is located in Forest County, Wisconsin.
Explore Walsh Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
5 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX5 samples · 2020–2021
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
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes