Madison County Lake Quality
Wisconsin, 2 lakes, average grade F (Very Poor)
Madison County has 2 graded lakes — a thin enough sample that one or two stressed lakes can move the county average noticeably. Use the per-lake pages below for what actually matters. The county average is F — the most-stressed bracket in our rubric. Most monitored lakes here show persistent nutrient loading and algal pressure.
Most of the county's monitored lakes are shallow — under 50 feet — which means wind keeps the water column mixed all summer and sediment-bound phosphorus releases back into the surface layer whenever the bottom is disturbed. Holiday Shores Lake (F) is the cleanest in the county.
Quick Answers for Madison County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Holiday Shores Lake, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or browse the full Wisconsin regulations index.
All Lakes in Madison County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Max Depth | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Holiday Shores Lake | F | 1.7 ft | - | 126.5 µg/L |
| 2 | Highland Silver Lake | F | 1.3 ft | - | 93.5 µg/L |
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.