Washington County Lake Quality
Wisconsin, 15 lakes, average grade B (Good)
There are 15 graded lakes in Washington County. The mix is varied enough that the county-level average tells you the broad strokes, not the choose-this-cabin specifics. With an average grade of B, Washington County sits comfortably above the Wisconsin median.
A meaningful share of Washington's lakes break 50 feet of depth, which matters because deep lakes hold cooler water all summer and resist the resuspended-sediment problems that plague shallow basins. The county's best-graded lake is Big Cedar Lake-North Site-Near West Bend (A).
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Quick Answers for Washington County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Big Cedar Lake-North Site-Near West Bend, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or browse the full Wisconsin regulations index.
Fishing in Washington County
All Lakes in Washington County
15 lakes · 13 graded, 2 not rated13 graded lakes · 2 not rated, hidden
| # | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Phosphorus | Algae | Trophic | Max Depth | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ABig Cedar Lake-North Site-Near West BendWashington | A | 11.8 ft | 17.5 µg/L | 3.6 µg/L | No recent samples | 105 ft | ✓ Public |
| 2 | ABig Cedar Lake-South Site-Near West BendWashington | A | 12.6 ft | 14.5 µg/L | 2.4 µg/L | No recent samples | 105 ft | ✓ Public |
| 3 | BGreen LakeWashington | B | 9 ft | 16.6 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 37 ft | ✓ Public |
| 4 | BLittle Friess LakeWashington | B | 7.4 ft | 26.1 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 34 ft | ✓ Public |
| 5 | BPike LakeWashington | B | 7 ft | 19.3 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 45 ft | ✓ Public |
| 6 | BBark LakeWashington | B | 5.5 ft | 33 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 34 ft | Not recorded |
| 7 | BDruid LakeWashington | B | 5.5 ft | 23.7 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 53 ft | ✓ Public |
| 8 | BFriess LakeWashington | B | 4 ft | 32.9 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 48 ft | Not recorded |
| 9 | BLake FiveWashington | B | 12 ft | 14.2 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 23 ft | Not recorded |
| 10 | BBig Cedar LakeWashington | B | 16.4 ft | 14.1 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 105 ft | ✓ Public |
| 11 | BBig Cedar LakeWashington | B | 9.8 ft | 15.7 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 105 ft | ✓ Public |
| 12 | BLittle Cedar LakeWashington | B | 10.5 ft | 12.1 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | ✓ Public |
| 13 | BBig Cedar Lake Northern Basin Deep SiteWashington | B | 8.7 ft | 20.4 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 105 ft | ✓ Public |
| NRSmith LakeWashington | NR | 4 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 5 ft | ✓ Public | |
| NRAmy Bell LakeWashington | NR | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 37 ft | Not recorded |
NR = not rated: the monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar for a grade. That is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 (insufficient information), not a failing grade. How grading works.
Lake Match
Which lake suits how you actually use one?
Six questions — swimming, fishing, quiet, cabins, drive time — and a shortlist of graded lakes that fit, with the water quality behind each one.
Other Counties in Wisconsin
See how Washington County stacks up in the national county water-quality rankings, or browse the full directory of graded lakes across all 39 states and 2 Canadian provinces.
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.