Cedar Lake
Cedar Lake in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 10.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 21 ft. Surface area: 136 acres.
- Clarity
- 10.2 ft
- Typical in August
- 77°F
- Max depth
- 21 ft
- Area
- 136 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Manitowoc County
Cedar Lake is a 136-acre mesotrophic lake in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 21 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 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, Cedar Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-12. Grade methodology: LakeGrade 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)
Good clarity, visible to about 10.2 ft. Phosphorus level: 17.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 45.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 17.7 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Cedar Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Cedar 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.
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Water Temperature
Cedar Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 76°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 80°F) and coldest in Apr (about 56°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 48 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Cedar Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 21 ft |
| Surface Area | 136 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Cedar LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Cedar 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.
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Cedar Lake covering fish populations, stocking, water quality, and management. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- 2022Cedar Lake comprehensive survey, 2022Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2022 (PDF)
- 2016Cedar Lake comprehensive survey 2016Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2016 (PDF)
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.221 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +8.78 µg/L/yr | 7 |
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 16 lakes in Manitowoc County
Nearby Lakes in Manitowoc County
Frequently asked questions about Cedar Lake
What is the water quality grade for Cedar Lake?
- Cedar Lake in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 10.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 21 ft. Surface area: 136 acres.
Is Cedar Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Cedar Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Cedar Lake?
- Cedar Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in August, from 48 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Cedar Lake?
- Cedar Lake has a maximum depth of 21 feet. The lake covers 136 acres.
What fish are in Cedar Lake?
- Fish species found in Cedar Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Cedar Lake is located in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Cedar Lake?
- Cedar Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Cedar Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Cedar Lake across LakeGrade
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Where this data comes from
97 measurements from 3 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_WQX97 samples · 2020–2026
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
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