Devils Lake
Devils Lake in Sauk County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Maximum depth: 47 ft. Surface area: 374 acres.
- Max depth
- 47 ft
- Area
- 374 acres
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Sauk County
Why Devils Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: 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 Devils Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years).
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.
Devils Lake is a 374-acre lake in Sauk County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 47 feet. The lake supports 6 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Smallmouth Bass. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings and 2 public beaches.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2024-05-23. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedBacteria B
Based on E. coli testing, Devils Lake rarely exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 1.4% of 357 samples across 9 seasons.
This is a historical summary of past testing, not a current condition — bacteria levels change quickly, especially after rain. Always check Wisconsin’s current beach and health-department advisories before swimming.
Water quality measurements for Devils Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
No clarity data.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples |
Where to stay near Devils Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Devils Lake in Sauk 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 Devils Lake
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Current Conditions
USGS snapshot Jul 6, 2026, 5:00 AM from gauge 05404500 (Devils Lake Near Baraboo, WI). Station page ↗ — a live reading replaces this snapshot when the gauge responds. Missing live data is not an all-clear.
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 47 ft |
| Surface Area | 374 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Devils Lake State Park - North ShorePublic
- GlenvillePublic
- Devils Nose State Natural AreaPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Devils 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. 38 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Devils 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).
- 2024Devils Lake creel survey, 2024Creel Survey · WI DNR · 2024 (PDF)
- 2024Devils Lake comprehensive fishery survey, 2024Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2024 (PDF)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
4 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Devils Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Baraboo Wastewater Treatment FacilityBaraboo · 2.5 mi away · NPDES WI0020605MajorRecent violation
- Wi Dnr Devils Lake State ParkBaraboo · 0.9 mi away · NPDES WI0060241
- Teel Plastics Co IncBaraboo · 1.5 mi away · NPDES WI0004421
- Us Dept Army Badger Army AmmunBaraboo · 3.6 mi away · NPDES WI0043974
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.
Graded lakes near Devils Lake
Devils Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Sauk County
Frequently asked questions about Devils Lake
What is the water quality grade for Devils Lake?
- Devils Lake in Sauk County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Maximum depth: 47 ft. Surface area: 374 acres.
Is Devils Lake safe to swim in?
- Based on E. coli testing, Devils Lake rarely exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 1.4% of 357 samples across 9 seasons. That works out to a bacteria swim-safety grade of B — a historical summary of past testing, not a current reading. Devils Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Bacteria levels can spike quickly after heavy rain, so always check Wisconsin's current beach and health-department advisories before you swim.
How deep is Devils Lake?
- Devils Lake has a maximum depth of 47 feet. The lake covers 374 acres.
What fish are in Devils Lake?
- Fish species found in Devils Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Trout, Walleye. Devils Lake is located in Sauk County, Wisconsin.
What is the water level at Devils Lake?
- The USGS snapshot on this page for Devils Lake is 8.52 ft of gage height, recorded Jul 6, 2026, 5:00 AM at gauge 05404500. Current Conditions hydrates a live NWIS reading from that same station when the gauge responds. A missed live fetch is not an all-clear.
Are there boat ramps on Devils Lake?
- Devils Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Devils Lake State Park - North Shore, Glenville, Devils Nose State Natural Area. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Devils Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Fish species and best lakes in Sauk County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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State Parks Near Devils Lake
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Where this data comes from
3 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX3 samples · 2022–2024
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
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