Dexter Lake
Dexter Lake in Wood County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). 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 →
- Clarity
- 1.5 ft
- Max depth
- 17 ft
- Area
- 287 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Dexter Lake →
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Dexter Lake is a 287-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Wood County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 17 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2025. 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. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria advisory
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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 1.5 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 483 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 82.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 483 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 82 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay 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 grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Dexter Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Dexter Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Dexter Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Dexter Lake D from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry. 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
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 17 ft |
| Surface Area | 287 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
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
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded 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
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 3 lakes in Wood County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Dexter Lake holds Grade D. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Wood County
Frequently asked questions about Dexter Lake
Where is Dexter Lake?
- Dexter Lake is a lake in Wood County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Dexter Lake?
- Dexter Lake in Wood County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). 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?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Dexter Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
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 a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Dexter Lake D from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry. 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.
Explore Dexter Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded 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 grade
Lakes in the Wisconsin River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
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More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade D 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)
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
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