Bernice Lake
Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin32 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Bernice Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- 11 ft max depth
- Limited data
Bernice Lake in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 6.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 74.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 11 ft. Surface area: 32 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Northern Pike as abundant on Bernice Lake. DNR survey details →
Bernice Lake is a 32-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 11 feet. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Compared to the 8 other monitored lakes in Fond du Lac County, Bernice Lake ranks #8 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2020-09-10. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Bernice Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Fishing3 species recorded
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
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 Bernice 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 Bernice Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Bernice 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 6.5 ft. Phosphorus 74.9 µg/L. TSI 58.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 6.5ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 74.9µg/L | Poor 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. | 58 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Bernice Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Wisconsin DNR rates Northern Pike as abundant on Bernice Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Bernice Lake’s water-quality measurements separately. 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 2020).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
Max depth
11 ft
Surface area
32 acres
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Bernice Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Bernice Lake in Fond du Lac 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 readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Bernice Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Bernice Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Bernice 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.
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Bernice Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Schrauths Mill (completed 1840), built primarily for recreation on the WEST BRANCH MILWAUKEE; earth-type dam, 13 ft tall and 120 ft long.
- Surface area
- 35 ac
- Normal storage
- 125 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 182 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 41 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- TOWN OF ASHFORD
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI00068 · Operator website
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Bernice Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Campbellsport Wastewater TrtmnCampbellsport · 2.4 mi away · NPDES WI0020818Recent violation
- Clover Hill DairyAshford, Town Of · 3 mi away · NPDES WI0061689Recent violation
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.
Nearby Lakes in Fond du Lac County
Frequently asked questions about Bernice Lake
Where is Bernice Lake?
- Bernice Lake is a lake in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Bernice Lake?
- Bernice Lake in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 6.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 74.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 11 ft. Surface area: 32 acres.
Is Bernice Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Bernice Lake?
- Bernice Lake has a maximum depth of 11 feet. The lake covers 32 acres.
What fish are in Bernice Lake?
- Fish species found in Bernice Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Bernice Lake is located in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Bernice Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Northern Pike as abundant on Bernice Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Bernice Lake’s water-quality measurements separately. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Explore Bernice Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
6 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX6 samples · 2020
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes