Wayne County Lake Quality
Wisconsin, 3 lakes, average grade D (Poor)
Wayne County has 3 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. On average, Wayne County lakes grade D, with phosphorus loading and reduced clarity showing up across most of the dataset.
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. Clearwater Lake Nr. Dam (B) is the cleanest in the county.
Quick Answers for Wayne County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Clearwater Lake Nr. Dam, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or browse the full Wisconsin regulations index.
All Lakes in Wayne County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Max Depth | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Clearwater Lake Nr. Dam | B | 5.7 ft | - | 15.7 µg/L |
| 2 | Lake Wappapello Nr. Dam | D | 1.8 ft | - | 50.7 µg/L |
| 3 | Lake Wappapello Lost Cr. Arm @ Sanderson Pt Bottom | D | 1.3 ft | - | 43 µg/L |
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.