Yellow River Flowage Lake
Yellow River Flowage Lake in Washburn County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 10 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 23.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 17 ft. Surface area: 85 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Northern Pike as abundant on Yellow River Flowage Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 10 ft
- Max depth
- 17 ft
- Area
- 85 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
- Yes
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Yellow River Flowage Lake is a 85-acre mesotrophic lake in Washburn County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 17 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2025. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 26 other monitored lakes in Washburn County, Yellow River Flowage Lake ranks #23 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-08-28. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Good clarity, visible to about 10 ft. Phosphorus level: 23.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 47.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 23.1 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Yellow River Flowage Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Yellow River Flowage Lake in Washburn 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Yellow River Flowage Lake
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Wisconsin DNR rates Northern Pike as abundant on Yellow River Flowage Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Yellow River Flowage Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 17 ft |
| Surface Area | 85 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- DNR Hatchery Picnic GroundsPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Yellow River Flowage 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.
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Yellow River Flowage Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Spooner Lake (completed 1884), built primarily for recreation on the YELLOW; gravity-type dam, 11 ft tall and 200 ft long.
- Surface area
- 1,092 ac
- Normal storage
- 6,200 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 9,480 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 20 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Washburn County
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI00665 · Operator website
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Yellow River Flowage Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Wi Dnr Gov Tommy Thompson Fish HatcherySpooner · 0.2 mi away · NPDES WI0049191Recent violation
- Spooner City OfSpooner, City Of · 1.4 mi away · NPDES WI0021067
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #23 of 27 lakes in Washburn County
Nearby Lakes in Washburn County
Frequently asked questions about Yellow River Flowage Lake
Where is Yellow River Flowage Lake?
- Yellow River Flowage Lake is a lake in Washburn County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Yellow River Flowage Lake?
- Yellow River Flowage Lake in Washburn County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 10 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 23.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 17 ft. Surface area: 85 acres.
Is Yellow River Flowage Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Yellow River Flowage Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Yellow River Flowage Lake?
- Yellow River Flowage Lake has a maximum depth of 17 feet. The lake covers 85 acres.
What fish are in Yellow River Flowage Lake?
- Fish species found in Yellow River Flowage Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Yellow River Flowage Lake is located in Washburn County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Yellow River Flowage Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Northern Pike as abundant on Yellow River Flowage Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Yellow River Flowage Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Yellow River Flowage Lake?
- Yellow River Flowage Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include DNR Hatchery Picnic Grounds. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
6 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX6 samples · 2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory