Bullhead Lake
Bullhead Lake in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 4.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 70.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 40 ft. Surface area: 70 acres.
- Clarity
- 4.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 61°F
- Max depth
- 40 ft
- Area
- 70 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Bullhead Lake →
Next lake in Manitowoc County
Bullhead Lake is a 70-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 40 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Water clarity 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 15 other monitored lakes in Manitowoc County, Bullhead Lake ranks #13 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-27. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyElevated nutrients
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)
Murky, only visible to about 4.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 70.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 61.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 70.7 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 61 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Bullhead Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Bullhead Lake in Manitowoc 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 Bullhead Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Bullhead 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 →
Water Temperature
Bullhead Lake typically sits around 61°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 65°F. Usually warmest in Jun (about 69°F) and coldest in Feb (about 39°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 85 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Bullhead Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 40 ft |
| Surface Area | 70 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Bullhead LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Bullhead 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 1986. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2026).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Bullhead 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).
- 2017Bullhead Lake comprehensive survey 2017Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2017 (PDF)
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.329 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +3.4 µg/L/yr | 7 |
EPA Impairment Status
Bullhead Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10000142 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
3 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Bullhead Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Rockland SD1 Wastewater Treatment FacilityRockland, Town Of · 3.7 mi away · NPDES WI0022802Recent violation
- Rockland Water Sewer Utilities WwtfRockland · 4.8 mi away · NPDES WI0028967Recent violation
- Dallman East River Dairy LlcBrillion · 1 mi away · NPDES WI0063681
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 #13 of 16 lakes in Manitowoc County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Bullhead 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.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Manitowoc County
Frequently asked questions about Bullhead Lake
What is the water quality grade for Bullhead Lake?
- Bullhead Lake in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 4.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 70.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 40 ft. Surface area: 70 acres.
Is Bullhead 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. Bullhead Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Bullhead Lake?
- Bullhead Lake typically sits around 61°F at the surface in August, from 85 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Bullhead Lake?
- Bullhead Lake has a maximum depth of 40 feet. The lake covers 70 acres.
What fish are in Bullhead Lake?
- Fish species found in Bullhead Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Bullhead Lake is located in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Bullhead Lake?
- Bullhead Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Bullhead Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Bullhead Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
199 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX199 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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