Dowling Lake
Dowling Lake in Douglas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 50 µg/L. Maximum depth: 13 ft. Surface area: 141 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.5 ft
- Max depth
- 13 ft
- Area
- 141 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Dowling Lake →
Next lake in Douglas County
Dowling Lake is a 141-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Douglas County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 13 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2020. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 14 other monitored lakes in Douglas County, Dowling Lake ranks #14 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2020-10-13. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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 2.5 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 50 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 62.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 50 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 62 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Dowling Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Dowling Lake in Douglas 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 Dowling Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Dowling Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 13 ft |
| Surface Area | 141 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Dowling LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Dowling 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. 4 stations on file (most recent sample 2020).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Dowling Lake covering fish populations, stocking, water quality, and management. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- 2024Dowling Lake spring shocking survey, 2024Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2024 (PDF)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.157 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -4.35 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Dowling 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 WI10010837 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #14 of 15 lakes in Douglas County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Dowling Lake holds Grade D. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Douglas County
Frequently asked questions about Dowling Lake
What is the water quality grade for Dowling Lake?
- Dowling Lake in Douglas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 50 µg/L. Maximum depth: 13 ft. Surface area: 141 acres.
Is Dowling 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. Dowling Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Dowling Lake?
- Dowling Lake has a maximum depth of 13 feet. The lake covers 141 acres.
What fish are in Dowling Lake?
- Fish species found in Dowling Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Dowling Lake is located in Douglas County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Dowling Lake?
- Dowling Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Dowling Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Dowling Lake across LakeGrade
2 documented falls within 11.9 mi, nearest Big Manitou Falls
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Douglas County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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State Parks Near Dowling Lake
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Where this data comes from
15 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX15 samples · 2020
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory