Is Lake Mendota Safe for Swimming?
Lake Mendota in Dane County, Wisconsin has nutrient and algae measurements on record from state and federal monitoring. A water-quality reading is not a swimming clearance. The state water agency and county health departments post current advisories; check them before you swim.. Water clarity: 5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 65.4 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Key Metrics
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5 ft |
| Phosphorus | 65.4 μg/L |
| Maximum Depth | 83 ft |
| Location | Dane County, Wisconsin |
How does Lake Mendota compare?
On nutrient and algae readings, Lake Mendota runs above the Wisconsin state average. It ranks #9 of 15 lakes in Dane County on nutrient and algae readings.
Water clarity (Secchi depth) sits at 5 feet. That falls into moderate clarity — typical for lakes with some nutrient enrichment.
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