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LakeQuality
D

Comus Lake

Walworth County, WisconsinEutrophic

Comus Lake earns a D — measurements through 2021 show persistent nutrient pressure that limits clarity through the summer. Clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.

At a TSI of 67, Comus Lake reads as eutrophic — nutrient-rich enough that summer algal growth and reduced clarity are expected, not unusual. A maximum depth of just 6 ft means sediment-bound phosphorus releases back into the water column whenever wind stirs the bottom — a classic shallow-lake dynamic. Comus Lake covers 131 acres alongside partial shoreline records — a mid-sized water that supports a working fishery without being so large that conditions diverge between basins. Within the 34 graded lakes of Walworth County, Comus Lake sits at rank 33, near the bottom of the county list.

No invasive species are currently listed at Comus Lake — the lake remains off the Wisconsin infested-waters roster. Bass fishing is part of the appeal: the species list runs to 3, anchored by largemouth and/or smallmouth bass. A documented public access point at Comus Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2021-08-24. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

Swimming Safety

Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk

Water Quality Grade: D, Poor

Murky, only visible to about 4.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 193 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 67.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)4.9 ftD
Phosphorus193 µg/LF
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)No data
Trophic State Index (TSI)67Eutrophic

High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity

Lake Details

CharacteristicValue
Maximum Depth6 ft
Surface Area131 acres
Public AccessYes

Fish Species

Click a species to see all Wisconsin and Minnesota lakes where it is found.

→ Best fishing times for Comus Lake (14-day solunar calendar)

→ Is it safe to eat fish from Comus Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)

Comus Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)

Water Quality Trend: Stable

Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).

MetricTrendChange/YearYears
Water Clarity Improving+0.125 m/yr3
Phosphorus Declining+113 µg/L/yr2
See year-by-year chart →

Recreation & Access

1
Boat Landings
Yes
Public Access

Location

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County Ranking

Ranked #33 of 34 lakes in Walworth County

Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles

Comus Lake holds Grade D. 5 nearby lakes hold higher grades.

See full comparison →

Nearby Lakes in Walworth County

WI DNR Lake Profile

Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2023).

Fish Species (DNR-rated)

Panfish(Present)Largemouth Bass(Present)Northern Pike(Present)

Data Sources

Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal

Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards

Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes

Most recent sample: 2021-08-24

Monitoring stations: 1