Late afternoon sun over Slim Lake, scattering a bright path across wind-textured water

Waukesha County Lake Quality

Wisconsin, 48 lakes, measured by Wisconsin DNR

There are 48 monitored lakes in Waukesha County. The mix is varied enough that the county-level average tells you the broad strokes, not the choose-this-cabin specifics. 26 of those lakes carry recent nutrient and algae readings. The county-level summary describes that subset, not every water body listed. The county-wide picture is low-to-moderate phosphorus with clear summer transparency across most monitored lakes.

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. Silver Lake has the lowest nutrient and algae readings in the county.

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Quick Answers for Waukesha County

Cleanest lakes in Waukesha County →Cleanest lakes in Wisconsin →Best swimming lakes in Wisconsin →

Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Silver Lake, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or browse the full Wisconsin regulations index.

Fishing in Waukesha County

Waukesha County Fishing Guide

Fish species and the cleanest lakes in Waukesha County

DNR Reports (3)

Wisconsin DNR Fisheries Survey resources for lakes in Waukesha County. browse all reports →

These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).

2024
Upper Genesee Lake fall shocking survey, 2024
Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2024 (PDF)
2023
Lake Keesus spring shocking survey, 2023
Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2023 (PDF)
2023
Middle Genesee Lake spring shocking survey, 2023
Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2023 (PDF)

All Lakes in Waukesha County

48 lakes · 26 ranked on readings, 22 without enough sampling26 lakes ranked on readings · 22 without enough sampling, hidden

Include not-rated lakes (22)

#	Lake	Clarity	Phosphorus	Algae	Trophic	Max Depth	Access
1	Silver LakeWaukesha	10 ft	11.8 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	40 ft	✓ Public
2	Ashippun LakeWaukesha	10 ft	13 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	35 ft	✓ Public
3	Ottawa LakeWaukesha	13 ft	14.6 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	16 ft	✓ Public
4	Crooked LakeWaukesha	8 ft	16.5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	16 ft	✓ Public
5	North LakeWaukesha	8 ft	17.9 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	78.4 ft	Not recorded
6	Pretty LakeWaukesha	12.2 ft	12.2 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	31 ft	✓ Public
7	Pewaukee LakeWaukesha	7.5 ft	19.9 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	45 ft	✓ Public
8	Hunters LakeWaukesha	9.5 ft	15.9 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	36 ft	✓ Public
9	Lac la Belle LakeWaukesha	4.8 ft	14.7 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	45 ft	✓ Public
10	Lake KeesusWaukesha	9.2 ft	15.8 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	42 ft	✓ Public
11	Eagle Spring LakeWaukesha	4.5 ft	17.9 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	8 ft	✓ Public
12	Oconomowoc LakeWaukesha	12.5 ft	11.9 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	60 ft	Not recorded
13	School Section LakeWaukesha	6.2 ft	26.2 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	8 ft	✓ Public
14	Lower Nashotah LakeWaukesha	9 ft	11.3 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	43 ft	✓ Public
15	Spring LakeWaukesha	No recent samples	12.2 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	22 ft	✓ Public
16	Lower Nemahbin LakeWaukesha	10.9 ft	10.9 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	36 ft	✓ Public
17	Denoon LakeWaukesha	9 ft	24.7 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	55 ft	✓ Public
18	Pine LakeWaukesha	25 ft	12.2 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	85 ft	✓ Public
19	Fowler LakeWaukesha	14.5 ft	15.5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	50 ft	✓ Public
20	Upper Nemahbin LakeWaukesha	12 ft	13.7 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	60 ft	✓ Public
21	Nagawicka LakeWaukesha	9.5 ft	13.5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	90 ft	✓ Public
22	Lower Phantom LakeWaukesha	6.7 ft	15.7 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	12 ft	✓ Public
23	Golden LakeWaukesha	12.8 ft	14.4 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	44 ft	✓ Public
24	Ocauchee LakeWaukesha	6.6 ft	17.5 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	90 ft	✓ Public
25	Okauchee Lake SiteWaukesha	4.6 ft	16.2 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	90 ft	✓ Public
26	Muskego LakeWaukesha	No recent samples	59.4 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	23 ft	✓ Public
	Upper Kelly LakeWaukesha	2 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	31 ft	✓ Public
	Beaver LakeWaukesha	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	46 ft	✓ Public
	Moose LakeWaukesha	16 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	✓ Public
	Lapham Peak PondWaukesha	5 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Little Muskego LakeWaukesha	15.5 ft	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	65 ft	✓ Public
	Henrietta LakeWaukesha	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	7 ft	✓ Public
	Lower Kelly LakeWaukesha	No recent samples	156 µg/L	No recent samples	No recent samples	36 ft	✓ Public
	Phantom LakeWaukesha	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	29 ft	Not recorded
	Rainbow Springs LakeWaukesha	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	16 ft	Not recorded
	Saylesville MillpondWaukesha	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Dutchman LakeWaukesha	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	43 ft	Not recorded
	Waterville LakeWaukesha	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	12 ft	Not recorded
	Upper Genesee LakeWaukesha	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	27 ft	Not recorded
	Upper Nashotah LakeWaukesha	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	53 ft	Not recorded
	Funks MillpondWaukesha	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Moose LakeWaukesha	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	61 ft	Not recorded
	Grass LakeWaukesha	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	8 ft	Not recorded
	Upper Oconomowoc LakeWaukesha	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	11 ft	✓ Public
	Tamarack LakeWaukesha	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	Not recorded
	Lower Genesee LakeWaukesha	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	45 ft	✓ Public
	Middle Genesee LakeWaukesha	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	40 ft	Not recorded
	Larkin LakeWaukesha	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	No recent samples	4 ft	Not recorded

NR = no nutrient or algae reading on record. The measurements are published as the authority reports them. Where the data comes from.

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Source: the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. See data sources.