Alabama Lake
Alabama Lake in Polk County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 1.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 70.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 28 ft. Surface area: 132 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as present on Alabama Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 1.7 ft
- Max depth
- 28 ft
- Area
- 132 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Alabama Lake →
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Alabama Lake is a 132-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Polk County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 28 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 54 other monitored lakes in Polk County, Alabama Lake ranks #50 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2023-09-11. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 1.7 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 70.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 67.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 70.8 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 67 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Alabama Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Alabama Lake in Polk County, Wisconsin — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Alabama Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Alabama Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as present on Alabama Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Alabama Lake D from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 3 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2023).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 28 ft |
| Surface Area | 132 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- McKeith LakePublic
- Herby LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Alabama Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.25 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -16.9 µg/L/yr | 2 |
EPA Impairment Status
Alabama Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5R).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10005088 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.43 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Alabama Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Cushing Sanitary District #1Laketown · 3.4 mi away · NPDES WI0058904
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #50 of 55 lakes in Polk County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Alabama Lake holds Grade D. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Polk County
Frequently asked questions about Alabama Lake
Where is Alabama Lake?
- Alabama Lake is a lake in Polk County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Alabama Lake?
- Alabama Lake in Polk County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 1.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 70.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 28 ft. Surface area: 132 acres.
Is Alabama Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Alabama Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Alabama Lake?
- Alabama Lake has a maximum depth of 28 feet. The lake covers 132 acres.
What fish are in Alabama Lake?
- Fish species found in Alabama Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Alabama Lake is located in Polk County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Alabama Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as present on Alabama Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Alabama Lake D from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 3 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Alabama Lake?
- Alabama Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include McKeith Lake, Herby Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Alabama Lake across LakeQuality
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
13 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2021–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX13 samples · 2021–2023
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory