Dane County Lake Quality
Wisconsin, 21 lakes, average grade D (Poor)
There are 21 graded lakes in Dane County. The mix is varied enough that the county-level average tells you the broad strokes, not the choose-this-cabin specifics. The county-wide average grade is D — water quality issues are persistent across most of the monitored basins. 12 lakes fall into the F bracket outright.
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 Salmo Pond (C); the most-stressed is Rice Lake (F).
Quick Answers for Dane County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Salmo Pond, 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 Dane County. browse all reports →
- 2024Marshall Millpond shocking survey, 2024Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2024 (PDF)
- 2023Lake Belle View shocking survey, 2023Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2023 (PDF)
- 2021Fish Lake comprehensive survey, 2021Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2021 (PDF)
- 2016Lake Kegonsa comprehensive survey, 2016Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2016 (PDF)
- 2015Common Carp and the Cherokee Marsh: Population and biomass estimate for Evaluation of management strategies 2015Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2015 (PDF)
- 2015Crystal Lake comprehensive survey, 2015Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2015 (PDF)
- 2015Fish and Mud lakes comprehensive survey, 2015Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2015 (PDF)
- —Lake Mendota gill netting survey, 2020-2024Netting Survey · WI DNR (PDF)
All Lakes in Dane County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Max Depth | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Salmo Pond | C | 9.2 ft | 15 ft | - |
| 2 | Meister Addition West Pond | C | - | - | 46.5 µg/L |
| 3 | Lake Kegonsa | C | 3.7 ft | 32 ft | 59.5 µg/L |
| 4 | Lake Wingra | C | 4 ft | 14 ft | 33.8 µg/L |
| 5 | Lake Mendota | C | 5 ft | 83 ft | 50.2 µg/L |
| 6 | Lake Waubesa | D | 3.2 ft | 38 ft | 36.6 µg/L |
| 7 | Lake Monona | D | 6.8 ft | - | 93.3 µg/L |
| 8 | Whalen Road Pond | D | - | - | 66.3 µg/L |
| 9 | American Way Pond | D | - | - | 64.3 µg/L |
| 10 | Rice Lake | F | 1.5 ft | 8 ft | 197 µg/L |
| 11 | Indian Lake | F | 0.7 ft | - | 295 µg/L |
| 12 | Private Pond | F | 2.8 ft | - | - |
| 13 | Tiedman Pond | F | 0.3 ft | - | - |
| 14 | Odana Pond | F | 1 ft | 5 ft | 315.5 µg/L |
| 15 | Investment Court Pond | F | - | - | 428 µg/L |
| 16 | Silent Street Pond | F | - | - | 508 µg/L |
| 17 | Gateway Pond | F | - | - | 319.5 µg/L |
| 18 | Prairie Oaks Pond | F | - | - | 350.5 µg/L |
| 19 | Cathedral Point Pond | F | - | - | 248 µg/L |
| 20 | Hawthorne Hills South Pond | F | - | - | 191 µg/L |
| 21 | Graber Pond | F | - | - | 231 µg/L |
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.