White Sand Lake

White Sand Lake earns an A — water clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate among the best monitored waters in Vilas County. Sub-grades cluster within a single letter of each other, which usually means the lake is in stable trophic balance rather than fighting one specific stressor.

A TSI value of 39 puts White Sand Lake in the oligotrophic range, where biological productivity stays low and the water column remains clear. The lake's 63 ft maximum depth is in the upper tier for Wisconsin — deep enough for cold-water fish to find refuge in summer. With 1,181 acres of surface and partial shoreline records, White Sand Lake is a large water by Wisconsin standards — recreational pressure is spread across a long shoreline. Among the 191 graded lakes in Vilas County, White Sand Lake ranks 28 — in the top quartile locally.

Eurasian watermilfoil is established at White Sand Lake, which can dampen recreational access and pressure the native plant community. The fishery includes walleye alongside the lake's other 6 documented species — a notable draw for Wisconsin anglers. A documented public access point at White Sand Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.