Clearest Lakes in Wisconsin: The 2022 Report

 

For the best underwater photography, finding clear water with high transparency is essential. So what are the clearest lakes in Wisconsin?  Every year, I consult with Wisconsin's state-wide citizen's lake monitoring group. They're a network of individuals, usually lake-front property owners who monitor and regularly take a variety of water samples from lakes all across Wisconsin.  The data they compile helps to give us a look at how our lakes are doing. 

One of the many tasks lake monitors perform is to take regular secchi disc readings. This is a universal way of assessing and comparing water clarity.  I'm always interested in knowing which Wisconsin inland lakes are the clearest so here are Wisconsin's clearest inland lakes and their highest single-day water clarity readings taken in 2022:

1)   Lake Metonga, Forest Co.42 feet

2)   Sand Lake, Burnett Co. 40 feet

3)   Pine Lake, Waukesha Co. 39 feet

4)   Maiden Lake, Oconto Co. 37 feet

5)   Lower Eau Claire Lake, Bayfield Co. 37 feet

6)   Delavan Lake, Walworth Co. 34 feet

7)   Thunder Lake, Marinette Co. 31 feet

8)   Wazee Lake, Jackson Co. 30 feet

9)   Whitefish Lake, Douglas Co. 30 feet

10) Blue Lake, Oneida Co. 30 feet

11) Black Oak Lake, Vilas Co. 29 feet

12) White Lake, Marquette Co. 29 feet

13) Archibald Lake, Oconto Co. 28 feet

14) Crystal Lake, Marquette Co. 28 feet

15) Stone Lake, Washburn Co. 26 feet

To see the list from 2021, click here