Muskego Lake
Muskego Lake in Waukesha County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 59.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 23 ft. Surface area: 2194 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Muskego Lake. DNR survey details →
- Max depth
- 23 ft
- Area
- 2,194 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Muskego Lake →
Next lake in Waukesha County
Swipe left or right on this bar to open the next or previous lake.
Muskego Lake is a 2,194-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Waukesha County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 23 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 34 other monitored lakes in Waukesha County, Muskego Lake ranks #35 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2022-05-11. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Muskego Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyElevated nutrients
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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 59.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 63.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 59.4 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 63 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Muskego Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Muskego Lake in Waukesha 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Muskego Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Muskego Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Muskego Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Muskego Lake D from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is declining. 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. 32 stations on file (most recent sample 2023).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 23 ft |
| Surface Area | 2,194 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- BoxhornPublic
- Wind Lake CanalPublic
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 Muskego 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: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +91.2 µg/L/yr | 2 |
County Ranking
Ranked #35 of 35 lakes in Waukesha County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Muskego Lake holds Grade D. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Waukesha County
Frequently asked questions about Muskego Lake
Where is Muskego Lake?
- Muskego Lake is a lake in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Muskego Lake?
- Muskego Lake in Waukesha County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 59.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 23 ft. Surface area: 2194 acres.
Is Muskego Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Muskego Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Muskego Lake?
- Muskego Lake has a maximum depth of 23 feet. The lake covers 2194 acres.
What fish are in Muskego Lake?
- Fish species found in Muskego Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Muskego Lake is located in Waukesha County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Muskego Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Muskego Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Muskego Lake D from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Muskego Lake?
- Muskego Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Boxhorn, Wind Lake Canal. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Muskego 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 Waukesha County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Wisconsin's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Muskego Lake
Other Grade D Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Compare Muskego Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
36 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX36 samples · 2020–2022
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
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