Skip to main content
LakeQuality
D

Wilson Flowage Lake

Price County, WisconsinEutrophic

Wilson Flowage Lake earns a D — measurements through 2024 show persistent nutrient pressure that limits clarity through the summer. Secchi readings are the weakest of the three parameters, suggesting suspended sediment or algal biomass dominates the optical signal.

Eutrophic conditions are the baseline here: clarity drops noticeably in late summer, and dissolved oxygen near the bottom can become a concern. At only 11 ft deep, Wilson Flowage Lake is shallow — wind keeps the water column mixed and sediment resuspension drives phosphorus levels harder to manage. The lake's 348 acres and partial shoreline records put it in the mid-range bucket — large enough for varied use, small enough that watershed inputs reach the whole basin. Wilson Flowage Lake sits at rank 18 of 27 in Price County, in the lower half of the local distribution.

Eurasian watermilfoil has been documented at Wilson Flowage Lake, requiring shoreline management to keep dense mats from crowding native vegetation. Walleye are documented at Wilson Flowage Lake, one of 5 fish species on record for the lake. A documented public access point at Wilson Flowage 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.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2024-10-01. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

Watch Wilson Flowage Lake water quality

Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

Swimming Safety

Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk

Water Quality Grade: D, Poor

Very murky, less than 2.5 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 52.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 63.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)2.5 ftF
Phosphorus52.6 µg/LC
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)No data
Trophic State Index (TSI)63Eutrophic

High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity

Lake Details

CharacteristicValue
Maximum Depth11 ft
Surface Area348 acres
Public AccessYes

Fish Species

Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.

→ Best fishing times for Wilson Flowage Lake (14-day solunar calendar)

→ Is it safe to eat fish from Wilson Flowage Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)

Wilson Flowage Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)

Invasive & Introduced Species

Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.

Banded Mystery SnailEurasian Water-MilfoilRusty Crayfish

Water Quality Trend: Declining

Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).

MetricTrendChange/YearYears
Water Clarity Declining-0.065 m/yr3

Recreation & Access

2
Boat Landings
Yes
Public Access

Location

Loading map…

County Ranking

Ranked #18 of 27 lakes in Price County

Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles

Wilson Flowage Lake holds Grade D. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.

See full comparison →

Nearby Lakes in Price County

WI DNR Lake Profile

Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. 3 stations on file (most recent sample 2024).

Fish Species (DNR-rated)

Walleye(Abundant)Musky(Common)Panfish(Present)Largemouth Bass(Present)Northern Pike(Present)

Reservoir Info (USACE NID)

Wilson Flowage Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Jobes (completed 1934), built primarily for recreation on the ELK; gravity-type dam, 16 ft tall and 285 ft long.

Surface area
1,237 ac
Normal storage
6,200 ac-ft
Max storage
8,000 ac-ft
Drainage area
216 sq mi
Hazard class
High
Owner
Price County

Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI00179 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.97 km)

EPA Impairment Status

Wilson Flowage Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).

Causes of impairment

Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)

Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10003538 · Official waterbody report

Data Sources

Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal

Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database

Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards

Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes

Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory

Most recent sample: 2024-10-01

Monitoring stations: 1

Where to stay near Wilson Flowage Lake

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Wilson Flowage Lake in Price County, Wisconsin — live availability and prices for your trip.

Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.