Adams County Lake Quality
Wisconsin, 20 lakes, average grade A (Excellent)
Adams County's 20 graded lakes fall in the moderate-density bracket for Wisconsin. The county-level average smooths over real differences — a single agricultural watershed near the southwest corner can pull the average down even if the rest of the county runs clean. On average, Adams County lakes grade an A. That puts it near the top of the Wisconsin county ranking.
The county's lakes lean shallow, which makes the grades sensitive to wind, sediment-resuspension, and any nutrient inputs from the watershed. The cleanest lake on the books is Parker Lake (A); the most-stressed is Mason Lake (D).
Quick Answers for Adams County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Parker Lake, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or browse the full Wisconsin regulations index.
DNR Reports (8)
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries Survey resources for lakes in Adams County. browse all reports →
- 2025Wolf Lake spring shocking survey, 2025Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2025 (PDF)
- 2023Petenwell Lake creel survey, 2023Creel Survey · WI DNR · 2023 (PDF)
- 2023Petenwell Lake flathead catfish survey, 2023Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2023 (PDF)
- 2022Camelot Lake comprehensive survey, 2022Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2022 (PDF)
- 2022Lake Arrowhead comprehensive survey, 2022Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2022 (PDF)
- 2022Peppermill Lake spring shocking survey, 2022Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2022 (PDF)
- 2021Big Roche a Cri late spring shocking survey, 2021Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2021 (PDF)
- 2021Lake Sherwood late spring shocking survey, 2021Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2021 (PDF)
All Lakes in Adams County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Max Depth | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Parker Lake | A | 55.8 ft | 36 ft | 14.8 µg/L |
| 2 | Goose Lake | A | 26.2 ft | 18 ft | 17.7 µg/L |
| 3 | Wolf Lake | A | 50.9 ft | 58 ft | 13.1 µg/L |
| 4 | Deep Lake | A | 50.9 ft | 49 ft | 13.3 µg/L |
| 5 | Jordan Lake | A | 45.9 ft | 92 ft | 12.1 µg/L |
| 6 | Crooked Lake | A | 29.5 ft | 56 ft | 16.7 µg/L |
| 7 | Jordan Lake | A | 55.8 ft | 92 ft | - |
| 8 | Camelot Lake | A | 25.4 ft | 24 ft | 17.2 µg/L |
| 9 | Camelot Lake | A | 23 ft | 24 ft | 19.7 µg/L |
| 10 | Patrick Lake | A | 16.4 ft | 21 ft | 19.4 µg/L |
| 11 | Peppermill Lake | A | 26.2 ft | - | 27 µg/L |
| 12 | Fawn Lake | A | 31.2 ft | - | 20.4 µg/L |
| 13 | Lake Sherwood | A | 19.7 ft | 27 ft | 22.6 µg/L |
| 14 | Mcginnis Lake | A | 19.7 ft | 28 ft | 21.3 µg/L |
| 15 | Arrowhead Lake | A | 21.3 ft | 30 ft | 20.8 µg/L |
| 16 | Big Roche A Cri Lake | A | 32.8 ft | 20 ft | 22.3 µg/L |
| 17 | Arkdale Lake | B | 14.8 ft | 10.5 ft | 21.8 µg/L |
| 18 | Easton Lake | B | 26.2 ft | - | 45.5 µg/L |
| 19 | Friendship Lake | B | 13.1 ft | 15 ft | 31 µg/L |
| 20 | Mason Lake | D | 3.9 ft | 9 ft | 104.5 µg/L |
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.