Wind Lake

Wind Lake sits at the top of the Wisconsin DNR grading rubric with an A, a mark reached by the cleanest lakes in Wisconsin. The three sub-grades — clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a — track close together, so no single parameter is dragging the average.

Trophically, Wind Lake reads as oligotrophic — nutrient-poor, clear, and ecologically more sensitive to disturbance than richer lakes. The lake's maximum depth is not yet documented in state morphometric records — context for its physical structure remains limited. At 39 acres, Wind Lake sits below the Wisconsin median: a small water where shoreline activity has an outsized effect on water quality. Within Polk County's 77 graded waters, Wind Lake sits at rank 1, near the top of the local distribution.

An invasive species record — Chinese Mystery Snail — has been logged at Wind Lake; Wisconsin DNR maintains the official infested-waters list. The fishery includes walleye alongside the lake's other 4 documented species — a notable draw for Wisconsin anglers. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.