Arkdale Lake
Adams County, Wisconsin46 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Arkdale Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- 4 aquatic invasives
- 11 ft max depth
- Public access
Arkdale Lake in Adams County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 21.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 10.5 ft. Surface area: 46 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Northern Pike as common on Arkdale Lake. DNR survey details →
Arkdale Lake is a 46-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Adams County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 11 feet. 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Arkdale Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Fishing3 species recorded
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Arkdale Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Arkdale Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Arkdale Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Murky, only visible to about 5 ft. Phosphorus 21.8 µg/L. TSI 51.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 5ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 21.8µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | No reading The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. | |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 51 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Arkdale Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (65°F) to its warmest (74°F).
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 →
Wisconsin DNR lists Northern Pike as common on Arkdale Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Arkdale Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is declining. 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. Monitored by volunteers since 2004. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
Max depth
10.5 ft
Surface area
46 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
148 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
1.2 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
922 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
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Stays near Arkdale Lake
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Top-rated places to stay near Arkdale Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every 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.
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 5 years of monitoring (2021–2025).
Water clarity
Worsening4 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+1.25 µg/L/yr5 years
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
Nearby Lakes in Adams County
Frequently asked questions about Arkdale Lake
Where is Arkdale Lake?
- Arkdale Lake is a lake in Adams County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Arkdale Lake?
- Arkdale Lake in Adams County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. 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?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
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.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Arkdale Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Northern Pike as common on Arkdale Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Arkdale Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Can I fish at Arkdale Lake?
- Public access to Arkdale Lake is listed as yes on the lake record. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Wisconsin's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Arkdale Lake across LakeQuality
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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)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes