Arrowhead Lake
Arrowhead Lake in Adams County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 6.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 30 ft. Surface area: 295 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Arrowhead Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 6.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 76°F
- Max depth
- 30 ft
- Area
- 295 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Arrowhead Lake is a 295-acre mesotrophic lake in Adams County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 30 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 17 other monitored lakes in Adams County, Arrowhead Lake ranks #10 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-21. Grade methodology: LakeQuality 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 6.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 20.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 49.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 20.7 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Arrowhead Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Arrowhead 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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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Arrowhead Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 78°F) and coldest in Apr (about 55°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 16 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Arrowhead Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Arrowhead Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Arrowhead Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 7 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. Monitored by volunteers since 2004. 17 stations on file (most recent sample 2026).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Arrowhead Lake covering fish populations, stocking, water quality, and management. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- 2022Lake Arrowhead comprehensive survey, 2022Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2022 (PDF)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 30 ft |
| Surface Area | 295 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Arrowhead Lake County ParkPublic
- Chester CreekSemi-private
- Devil's Elbow / WoodSemi-private
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 Arrowhead 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 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.71 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.34 µg/L/yr | 7 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Arrowhead Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Arrowhead (completed 1978), built primarily for recreation on the 14 MILE CREEK; earth-type dam, 34 ft tall and 1,300 ft long.
- Surface area
- 300 ac
- Normal storage
- 2,700 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 4,800 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 98.8 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Adams County
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI01028 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Arrowhead Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10025501 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #10 of 18 lakes in Adams County
Nearby Lakes in Adams County
Frequently asked questions about Arrowhead Lake
Where is Arrowhead Lake?
- Arrowhead Lake is a lake in Adams County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Arrowhead Lake?
- Arrowhead Lake in Adams County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 6.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 30 ft. Surface area: 295 acres.
Is Arrowhead Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Arrowhead Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Arrowhead Lake?
- Arrowhead Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August, from 16 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Arrowhead Lake?
- Arrowhead Lake has a maximum depth of 30 feet. The lake covers 295 acres.
What fish are in Arrowhead Lake?
- Fish species found in Arrowhead Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Arrowhead Lake is located in Adams County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Arrowhead Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Arrowhead Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Arrowhead Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Arrowhead Lake?
- Arrowhead Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Arrowhead Lake County Park, Chester Creek, Devil's Elbow / Wood. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Arrowhead Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Adams County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Wisconsin River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Wisconsin's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Arrowhead Lake
Other Grade B Lakes in Wisconsin
Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
64 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX64 samples · 2020–2026
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
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