White Sand Lake Deep

On the LakeGrade rubric, White Sand Lake Deep pulls an A: clarity at 18.0 ft and phosphorus readings still being added put it in the top bracket for Wisconsin. Clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.

A TSI value of 35 puts White Sand Lake Deep in the oligotrophic range, where biological productivity stays low and the water column remains clear. At 63 ft of maximum depth, White Sand Lake Deep stratifies reliably through the summer — the hypolimnion stays cooler and clearer than the surface layer suggests. At 1,181 acres, White Sand Lake Deep is one of the larger lakes in Vilas County, with partial shoreline records supporting multiple distinct use patterns. Among the 191 graded lakes in Vilas County, White Sand Lake Deep ranks 1 — in the top quartile locally.

Eurasian watermilfoil is established at White Sand Lake Deep, which can dampen recreational access and pressure the native plant community. Walleye are documented at White Sand Lake Deep, one of 6 fish species on record for the lake. Public access is available — the lake is on the Wisconsin DNR public-access list. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.