Dowling Lake
Douglas County, Wisconsin141 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Dowling Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Cause unknown
- Curly-Leaf Pondweed
- 13 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Dowling Lake in Douglas County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 50 µg/L. Maximum depth: 13 ft. Surface area: 141 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Dowling Lake. DNR survey details →
Dowling Lake is a 141-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Douglas County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 13 feet. 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Dowling Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing5 species recorded
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
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. Dowling Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for cause unknown. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Dowling 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 Dowling Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Dowling 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 2.5 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 50 µg/L. TSI 62.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 2.5ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 50µg/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. | 62 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Dowling Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Dowling Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Dowling Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. 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. 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)
Lake Details
Max depth
13 ft
Surface area
141 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Recreation & Access
- Dowling LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays 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 readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Dowling Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Dowling Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 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 Dowling Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every 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.
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Improving5 years
Phosphorus
Improving-4.35 µg/L/yr6 years
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
Designated uses not supporting: Recreation.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10010837 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Douglas County
Frequently asked questions about Dowling Lake
Where is Dowling Lake?
- Dowling Lake is a lake in Douglas County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Dowling Lake?
- Dowling Lake in Douglas County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. 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?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Dowling Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for cause unknown. Check local advisories before you swim.
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.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Dowling Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Dowling Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Dowling Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
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.
Can I fish at Dowling Lake?
- Dowling 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 Dowling Lake across LakeQuality
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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)
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
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory