Buffalo Lake
Buffalo Lake in Marquette County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 125.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 8 ft. Surface area: 2179 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.5 ft
- Max depth
- 8 ft
- Area
- 2,179 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Buffalo Lake →
Next lake in Marquette County
Buffalo Lake is a 2,179-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Marquette County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 8 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 10 other monitored lakes in Marquette County, Buffalo Lake ranks #11 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-09-14. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Buffalo Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 2.5 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 125.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 69.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 125.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 69 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Buffalo Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Buffalo Lake in Marquette 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 grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Buffalo Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Buffalo Lake
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 →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 8 ft |
| Surface Area | 2,179 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- 10th DrivePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Buffalo 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 2007. 15 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.6 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +13.06 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Buffalo Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Buffalo Lake Dam (completed 1922) on the FOX; gravity-type dam, 13 ft tall and 2,800 ft long.
- Surface area
- 2,210 ac
- Normal storage
- 10,000 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 19,000 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 398 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI01015 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Buffalo 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 WI10001014 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Buffalo Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Packwaukee Sanitary District No. 1 WwtfPackwaukee, Town Of · 3.7 mi away · NPDES WI0060933Recent 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.
County Ranking
Ranked #11 of 11 lakes in Marquette County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Buffalo Lake holds Grade D. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Marquette County
Frequently asked questions about Buffalo Lake
What is the water quality grade for Buffalo Lake?
- Buffalo Lake in Marquette County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 125.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 8 ft. Surface area: 2179 acres.
Is Buffalo Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Buffalo Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Buffalo Lake?
- Buffalo Lake has a maximum depth of 8 feet. The lake covers 2179 acres.
What fish are in Buffalo Lake?
- Fish species found in Buffalo Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Catfish. Buffalo Lake is located in Marquette County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Buffalo Lake?
- Buffalo Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include 10th Drive. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Buffalo Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Marquette County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Wisconsin's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Buffalo Lake
Other Grade D Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Compare Buffalo Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
12 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2024–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX12 samples · 2024–2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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
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