Cooley Lake
Cooley Lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 39.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 42 ft. Surface area: 62 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as present on Cooley Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 5 ft
- Max depth
- 42 ft
- Area
- 62 acres
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Why Cooley Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Cooley Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity and phosphorus, but not algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by WI DNR and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Cooley Lake is a 62-acre lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 42 feet. The lake supports 2 documented fish species including Panfish and Northern Pike.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2021-01-13. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Watch Cooley Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Cooley Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 5 ft. Phosphorus level: 39.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 56.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 39.3 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 56 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Cooley Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Cooley Lake in Oconto 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 Cooley Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as present on Cooley Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Cooley Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter. 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. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2021).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 42 ft |
| Surface Area | 62 acres |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Cooley Lake
EPA Impairment Status
Cooley 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 WI10000916 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Cooley Lake
Cooley Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Oconto County
Frequently asked questions about Cooley Lake
Where is Cooley Lake?
- Cooley Lake is a lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — there is not enough recent sampling to assign a letter.
What is the water quality grade for Cooley Lake?
- Cooley Lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 39.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 42 ft. Surface area: 62 acres.
Is Cooley Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Cooley Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Cooley Lake?
- Cooley Lake has a maximum depth of 42 feet. The lake covers 62 acres.
What fish are in Cooley Lake?
- Fish species found in Cooley Lake include Panfish, Northern Pike. Cooley Lake is located in Oconto County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Cooley Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as present on Cooley Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Cooley Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
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Where this data comes from
12 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2021. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX12 samples · 2020–2021
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes