Arkdale Lake
Arkdale Lake in Adams County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 10.5 ft. Surface area: 46 acres.
- Clarity
- 5 ft
- Typical in August
- 65°F
- Max depth
- 10.5 ft
- Area
- 46 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Adams County
Arkdale Lake is a 46-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Adams County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 11 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available. Compared to the 17 other monitored lakes in Adams County, Arkdale Lake ranks #12 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-05-30. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Murky, only visible to about 5 ft. Phosphorus level: 21.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 51.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 21.8 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 51 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Arkdale Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Arkdale Lake in Adams 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.
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Water Temperature
Arkdale Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 69°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 74°F) and coldest in Aug (about 65°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 8 field readings (2024–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Arkdale Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 10.5 ft |
| Surface Area | 46 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Arkdale 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.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 2004. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.5 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.25 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Arkdale Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Arkdale (completed 1860), built primarily for recreation; gravity-type dam, 16 ft tall and 500 ft long.
- Surface area
- 55 ac
- Normal storage
- 110 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 330 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 142 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Arkdale Lake District;Setlef Holdings, LLC
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI00237 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #12 of 18 lakes in Adams County
Nearby Lakes in Adams County
Frequently asked questions about Arkdale Lake
What is the water quality grade for Arkdale Lake?
- Arkdale Lake in Adams County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 10.5 ft. Surface area: 46 acres.
Is Arkdale Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Arkdale Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Arkdale Lake?
- Arkdale Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in August, from 8 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Arkdale Lake?
- Arkdale Lake has a maximum depth of 10.5 feet. The lake covers 46 acres.
What fish are in Arkdale Lake?
- Fish species found in Arkdale Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Arkdale Lake is located in Adams County, Wisconsin.
Explore Arkdale Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
37 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX37 samples · 2021–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes