Curly-Leaf Pondweed
Invasive SpeciesFound in 432 lakes
Curly-Leaf Pondweed appears on state infested-waters lists for 432 surface waters. Boaters and anglers moving gear in or out of those lakes carry a clean-drain-dry obligation under state law. At 432 infested lakes, Curly-Leaf Pondweed is past the "containable" stage in the upper Midwest — every public boat-launch on uninfested water should now assume incoming boaters may be carrying it.
The presence of Curly-Leaf Pondweed does not directly change a lake's LakeGrade rubric score — the grade measures the water itself, not the species inhabiting it. But invasive presence is a meaningful adjacent signal worth reading alongside the grade.
Lakes with Curly-Leaf Pondweed
| Lake | County | State | Grade | Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geneva Lake | Walworth | WI | A | 135 ft |
| Deep Lake | Adams | WI | A | 49 ft |
| Beasley Lake | Waupaca | WI | A | 47 ft |
| Clear Lake | Polk | WI | A | 26 ft |
| Pike Lake | Polk | WI | A | 33 ft |
| Wolf Lake | Adams | WI | A | 58 ft |
| North Twin Lake | Polk | WI | A | 27 ft |
| Deer Lake | Polk | WI | A | 46 ft |
| Shell Lake | Washburn | WI | A | 36 ft |
| Sand Lake | Rusk | WI | A | 100 ft |
| Viola Lake | Burnett | WI | A | 34 ft |
| Fish Lake | Waushara | WI | A | 37 ft |
| Upper Eau Claire Lake | Bayfield | WI | A | 92 ft |
| Half Moon Lake | Polk | WI | A | 60 ft |
| Pearl Lake | Waushara | WI | A | 45 ft |
| Paddock Lake | Kenosha | WI | A | 32 ft |
| Lower Eau Claire Lake | Bayfield | WI | A | 41 ft |
| Tozer Lake | Washburn | WI | A | 53 ft |
| Pine Lake | Waukesha | WI | A | 85 ft |
| Dutch Hollow Lake | Sauk | WI | A | 38 ft |
| Grindstone Lake | Sawyer | WI | A | 60 ft |
| Middle Eau Claire Lake | Bayfield | WI | A | 66 ft |
| South Twin Lake | Polk | WI | A | 9 ft |
| Harris Lake | Vilas | WI | A | 57 ft |
| Parker Lake | Adams | WI | A | 36 ft |
| Geneva Lake | Walworth | WI | A | 135 ft |
| Big Cedar Lake | Washington | WI | A | 105 ft |
| Pope Lake | Waupaca | WI | A | 40 ft |
| Middle Mckenzie Lake | Burnett | WI | A | 45 ft |
| Wazee Lake | Jackson | WI | A | 350 ft |
| Little Muskego Lake | Waukesha | WI | A | 65 ft |
| Geneva Lake Site B | Walworth | WI | A | 135 ft |
| Thomas Lake | Portage | WI | A | 28 ft |
| Billy Boy Flowage Lake | Sawyer | WI | A | 46 ft |
| Amy Bell Lake | Washington | WI | A | 37 ft |
| Trego Lake | Washburn | WI | A | 36 ft |
| Napowan Lake | Waushara | WI | A | 18 ft |
| Lac Courte Oreilles Lake | Sawyer | WI | A | 90 ft |
| Whitefish Lake | Sawyer | WI | A | 105 ft |
| Big Cedar Lake-North Site-Near West Bend | Washington | WI | A | 105 ft |
| Big Cedar Lake-South Site-Near West Bend | Washington | WI | A | 105 ft |
| Lake Beulah | Walworth | WI | A | 58 ft |
| Okauchee Lake | Waukesha | WI | A | 90 ft |
| Powers Lake | Kenosha | WI | A | 33 ft |
| Silver Lake | Waushara | WI | A | 56 ft |
| Silver Lake | Waushara | WI | A | 50 ft |
| Mirror Lake | Waupaca | WI | A | 43 ft |
| Kusel Lake | Waushara | WI | A | 29 ft |
| Marl Lake | Waushara | WI | A | 35 ft |
| Ottawa Lake | Waukesha | WI | A | 16 ft |
Showing 50 of 432 infested lakes.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many lakes have curly-leaf pondweed?
Curly-Leaf Pondweed has been documented in 432 graded lakes: 430 in Wisconsin, 2 in North Dakota.
Does curly-leaf pondweed affect water quality?
Invasive species can significantly affect lake ecosystems. They may alter nutrient cycling, displace native species, and change water clarity. Lakes with curly-leaf pondweed should be monitored for changes in water quality over time.
Invasives Found With Curly-Leaf Pondweed
Co-occurs in 220 lakes · 493 total
Co-occurs in 187 lakes · 363 total
Co-occurs in 173 lakes · 278 total
Co-occurs in 142 lakes · 688 total
Co-occurs in 99 lakes · 244 total
Co-occurs in 40 lakes · 99 total
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.