Ward Lake

On the LakeGrade rubric, Ward Lake pulls an A: clarity at 19.7 ft and 22 µg/L of phosphorus put it in the top bracket for Wisconsin. The three sub-grades — clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a — track close together, so no single parameter is dragging the average.

The lake sits in the mesotrophic zone — the band where most well-managed Wisconsin lakes fall. Ward Lake reaches 43 ft at its deepest point — typical for Wisconsin mid-sized lakes, with seasonal stratification but limited cold-water refuge. At 82 acres, Ward Lake sits below the Wisconsin median: a small water where shoreline activity has an outsized effect on water quality. Ward Lake ranks 36 of 77 in Polk County — solidly in the upper half of the local distribution.

An invasive species record — Chinese Mystery Snail — has been logged at Ward Lake; Wisconsin DNR maintains the official infested-waters list. The fishery includes walleye alongside the lake's other 3 documented species — a notable draw for Wisconsin anglers. A documented public access point at Ward Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.