Whitefish Lake
Whitefish Lake in Sawyer County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 13.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 105 ft. Surface area: 800 acres.
- Clarity
- 13.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Max depth
- 105 ft
- Area
- 800 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Sawyer County
Whitefish Lake is a 800-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Sawyer County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 105 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 7 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 44 other monitored lakes in Sawyer County, Whitefish Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-07. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 13.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 14 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 1.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 39.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 14 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.6 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 39 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Whitefish Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Whitefish Lake in Sawyer 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.
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Water Temperature
Whitefish Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in Jun (about 70°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 12 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Whitefish Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Whitefish Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was moderate (38,019 cells/mL) on July 7, 2026.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 105 ft |
| Surface Area | 800 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Whitefish LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Whitefish Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 1986. 2 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.814 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.17 µg/L/yr | 7 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.1 µg/L/yr | 5 |
EPA Impairment Status
Whitefish 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 WI10004089 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.2 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 45 lakes in Sawyer County
Nearby Lakes in Sawyer County
Frequently asked questions about Whitefish Lake
What is the water quality grade for Whitefish Lake?
- Whitefish Lake in Sawyer County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 13.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 105 ft. Surface area: 800 acres.
Is Whitefish Lake safe to swim in?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Whitefish Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 1.6 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Whitefish Lake?
- Whitefish Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, from 12 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Whitefish Lake?
- Whitefish Lake has a maximum depth of 105 feet. The lake covers 800 acres.
What fish are in Whitefish Lake?
- Fish species found in Whitefish Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Trout, Walleye. Whitefish Lake is located in Sawyer County, Wisconsin.
Does Whitefish Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Whitefish Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was moderate (38,019 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Wisconsin's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Whitefish Lake?
- Whitefish Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Whitefish Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Whitefish Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
118 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Lac Courte Oreilles (Tribal)
LCOWIS_WQX76 samples · 2020–2024 - Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX42 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 4500 P F ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry Automated Ascorbic Acid Method
- 2320 B ~ Alkalinity by Gran Titration
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus by Ascorbic Acid
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory