Bad River Slough
Ashland County, Wisconsin · WBIC 2892100
The DNR lists this lake's watershed (Bad River-Frontal Lake Superior) as suspect or infected with VHS, a fish virus. The listing covers the watershed, not a test of this lake. About VHS
Size
204 acres
Max depth
24 ft
DNR lake type
Complex, Riverine
Water clarity
5.5 ft
Moderate, measured Aug 2001
A river-like water type, with flow instead of a still basin. This describes the lake type in general, not this lake in particular.
Outline
Drawn from the DNR's 24K hydrography (surveyed 1975), so the shape is approximate and a landing can sit a little off the shore. Open the DNR lake map.
Water clarity
5.5 ft Secchi depthModerateOlder reading
Last measured Aug 7, 2001. 3 readings on record, 2000 to 2001.
Only a few readings are on record.
Nothing has been measured in the last 5 years, so this may not match the lake today.
Secchi depth is how far down a white disk stays visible. A bigger number means clearer water. Clear means a Secchi depth of 10 feet or more, moderate 5 to 10 feet, low under 5 feet.
Wisconsin DNR water monitoring (volunteer and staff), via the Water Quality Portal; station BAD RIVER SLOUGH - BAD RIVER SLOUGH. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Water temperature
A typical year Modeled estimate
- Ice goes outabout Apr 18 (Apr 13 to Apr 26)
- Surface reaches 48°Fabout May 7 (Apr 30 to May 11)
- Surface reaches 64°Fabout May 25 (May 19 to Jun 1)
- June surface70°F, usually 68 to 72°F
- July surface78°F, usually 76 to 79°F
- August surface76°F, usually 75 to 77°F
Forms a warm top layer around May 5, lasting about 188 days.
A computer model of this lake's typical weather and water, built from 15 years, 2005 to 2019. Ranges show the middle half of years. The model was not calibrated against measured temperatures for this lake. It is an estimate, not a measurement.
Modeled: U.S. Geological Survey lake temperature data release (doi:10.5066/P9CA6XP8).
Today at the lake
Forecast: National Weather Service (no endorsement implied). Sunrise, sunset and moon phase are calculated. The moon phase can be a day off.
More lakes in Ashland County
Where this comes from
- Size, depth and lake typeWisconsin DNR lake classifications, checked Oct 23, 2026
- OutlineWisconsin DNR 24K hydrography, checked Oct 23, 2026
- Water clarityWisconsin DNR water monitoring, via the Water Quality Portal, checked Oct 23, 2026
- Typical-year temperatureU.S. Geological Survey lake temperature model (modeled estimate), checked Oct 23, 2026
- VHS statusWisconsin DNR VHS status by watershed, checked Oct 24, 2026
- Depth map linkWisconsin DNR lake maps list, checked Oct 24, 2026
See data sources for what each source covers, and about for how the numbers are matched to lakes.
Something wrong on this page? Report a problem.