Browns Lake
Racine County, Wisconsin397 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Browns Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- 2 aquatic invasives
- 44 ft max depth
- Public access
Browns Lake in Racine County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 6.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17 µg/L. Maximum depth: 44 ft. Surface area: 397 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Largemouth Bass and Northern Pike as abundant on Browns Lake. DNR survey details →
Browns Lake is a 397-acre mesotrophic lake in Racine County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 44 feet. 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 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Racine County, Browns Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-05-08. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Browns Lake covers about 400 acres in Racine County. It has one public boat landing. For a place on the water, look through cabin and lake-house rentals near Browns Lake on Vrbo. For a hotel or motel room, Booking.com and Expedia both search around the lake.
What Browns Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing4 species recorded
- Deep water44 ft surveyed max depth
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 Browns 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 Browns Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Browns 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 6.2 ft. Phosphorus 17 µg/L. TSI 48.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 6.2ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 17µg/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. | 48 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Browns Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Wisconsin DNR rates Largemouth Bass and Northern Pike as abundant on Browns Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Browns Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 5 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. 2 stations on file (most recent sample 2026).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
Max depth
44 ft
Surface area
397 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
1 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
3.7 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
761 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Fischer County ParkPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Browns Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Browns Lake in Racine 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Browns Lake
Prices for Oct 16–18, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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 →
Follow Browns Lake’s readings
Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.
Or email
Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Browns 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 5 years of monitoring (2021–2025).
Water clarity
Improving5 years
Phosphorus
Improving-1.38 µg/L/yr5 years
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
4 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Browns Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 2 classified by the EPA as major dischargers. 4 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Burlington Water Pollution ControlBurlington · 1.7 mi away · NPDES WI0022926MajorRecent violation
- Western Racine County Sewerage DistrictRochester · 3.6 mi away · NPDES WI0028754MajorRecent violation
- Wheatland Estates Mobile HomeBurlington · 2 mi away · NPDES WI0031011Recent violation
- Applied Material Solutions Inc BurlingtonCity Of Burlington · 2.8 mi away · NPDES WI0065684Recent 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 Racine County
Frequently asked questions about Browns Lake
Where is Browns Lake?
- Browns Lake is a lake in Racine County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Browns Lake?
- Browns Lake in Racine County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 6.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17 µg/L. Maximum depth: 44 ft. Surface area: 397 acres.
Is Browns Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Browns Lake?
- Browns Lake has a maximum depth of 44 feet. The lake covers 397 acres.
What fish are in Browns Lake?
- Fish species found in Browns Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Browns Lake is located in Racine County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Browns Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Largemouth Bass and Northern Pike as abundant on Browns Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Browns Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Browns Lake?
- Browns Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Fischer County Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Browns Lake?
- Browns Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. 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 Browns Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Racine County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its readings
Wisconsin's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Wisconsin
State Parks Near Browns Lake
Other Lakes in Wisconsin
Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Compare Browns Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
41 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_WQX41 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
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