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
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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.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.5 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 52.6 µg/L | C |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 63 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 11 ft |
| Surface Area | 348 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
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.
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.065 m/yr | 3 |
Recreation & Access
Location
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.
- BLake Ten-Deep HolePrice County · mi · Two grade letters higher (D → B)
- CBig Dardis LakePrice County · mi · Higher grade (D → C)
Nearby Lakes in Price County
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. 3 stations on file (most recent sample 2024).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
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
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
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