Browns Lake
Browns Lake in Racine County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 6.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17 µg/L. Maximum depth: 44 ft. Surface area: 397 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Largemouth Bass and Northern Pike as abundant on Browns Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 6.2 ft
- Max depth
- 44 ft
- Area
- 397 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Browns Lake is a 397-acre mesotrophic lake in Racine County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 44 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Racine County, Browns Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-05-08. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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)
Murky, only visible to about 6.2 ft. Phosphorus level: 17 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 48.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 17 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Browns Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Browns Lake in Racine 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 Browns Lake
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Wisconsin DNR rates Largemouth Bass and Northern Pike as abundant on Browns Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Browns Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is improving. 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. 2 stations on file (most recent sample 2026).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 44 ft |
| Surface Area | 397 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Fischer County ParkPublic
- Echo Lake Veterans Memorial ParkPublic
Named access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, snapped within 5 km. More lakes with boat ramps
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Browns 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.
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.321 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.38 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
4 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Browns Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 2 classified by the EPA as major dischargers. 4 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Burlington Water Pollution ControlBurlington · 1.7 mi away · NPDES WI0022926MajorRecent violation
- Western Racine County Sewerage DistrictRochester · 3.6 mi away · NPDES WI0028754MajorRecent violation
- Wheatland Estates Mobile HomeBurlington · 2 mi away · NPDES WI0031011Recent violation
- Applied Material Solutions Inc BurlingtonCity Of Burlington · 2.8 mi away · NPDES WI0065684Recent violation
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 #2 of 4 lakes in Racine County
Nearby Lakes in Racine County
Frequently asked questions about Browns Lake
Where is Browns Lake?
- Browns Lake is a lake in Racine County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Browns Lake?
- Browns Lake in Racine County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 6.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17 µg/L. Maximum depth: 44 ft. Surface area: 397 acres.
Is Browns Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Browns Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Browns Lake?
- Browns Lake has a maximum depth of 44 feet. The lake covers 397 acres.
What fish are in Browns Lake?
- Fish species found in Browns Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Browns Lake is located in Racine County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Browns Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Largemouth Bass and Northern Pike as abundant on Browns Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Browns Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Browns Lake?
- Browns Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Fischer County Park, Echo Lake Veterans Memorial Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Browns Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Racine County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Wisconsin's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Browns Lake
Other Grade B Lakes in Wisconsin
Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
41 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX41 samples · 2021–2026
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)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory