Dexter Lake
Wood County, Wisconsin287 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Dexter Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Hypereutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- 2 aquatic invasives
- 17 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Dexter Lake in Wood County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 1.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 483 µg/L. Maximum depth: 17 ft. Surface area: 287 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Dexter Lake. DNR survey details →
Dexter Lake is a 287-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Wood County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 17 feet. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Smallmouth Bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Wood County, Dexter Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-09-11. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Dexter Lake covers about 290 acres in Wood County. It has one public boat landing. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Dexter Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What Dexter Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing5 species recorded
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyBacteria advisory
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Dexter Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), pathogens (E. coli, fecal). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Dexter Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Dexter Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Dexter Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Very murky, less than 1.5 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 483 µg/L. TSI 82.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 1.5ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 483µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | No reading The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. | |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 82 | Hypereutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Ask about Dexter Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Dexter Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Dexter Lake’s water-quality measurements separately. 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. 2 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
Max depth
17 ft
Surface area
287 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
202 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
4.8 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
988 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Dexter County ParkPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Dexter Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Dexter Lake in Wood 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 readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Dexter Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Dexter Lake
Prices for Oct 16–18, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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 →
Follow Dexter Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Dexter 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.
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Dexter Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Dexterville (completed 1964), built primarily for recreation on the YELLOW R; earth-type dam, 27 ft tall and 1,975 ft long.
- Surface area
- 298 ac
- Normal storage
- 1,825 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 4,600 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 210 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Wood County
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI00659 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.44 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Dexter Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life, Recreation.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10023470 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Dexter Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Pittsville Water And Sewer Dept WwtfPittsville · 2.4 mi away · NPDES WI0020494Recent violation
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.
Nearby Lakes in Wood County
Frequently asked questions about Dexter Lake
Where is Dexter Lake?
- Dexter Lake is a lake in Wood County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Dexter Lake?
- Dexter Lake in Wood County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 1.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 483 µg/L. Maximum depth: 17 ft. Surface area: 287 acres.
Is Dexter Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Dexter Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), pathogens (E. coli, fecal). Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Dexter Lake?
- Dexter Lake has a maximum depth of 17 feet. The lake covers 287 acres.
What fish are in Dexter Lake?
- Fish species found in Dexter Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Dexter Lake is located in Wood County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Dexter Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Dexter Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Dexter Lake’s water-quality measurements separately. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Dexter Lake?
- Dexter Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Dexter County Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Dexter Lake?
- Dexter Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Wisconsin's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Dexter Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Wood County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Wisconsin River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Wisconsin's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Wisconsin
Other Lakes in Wisconsin
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
6 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX6 samples · 2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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