Dunn Lake
Dunn Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 6.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 9 ft. Surface area: 77 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Dunn Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 6.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 72°F
- Max depth
- 9 ft
- Area
- 77 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
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Why Dunn Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: 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 Dunn Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
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.
Dunn Lake is a 77-acre lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 9 feet. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-08-31. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Watch Dunn Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Dunn Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 6.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 50.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 50 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Dunn Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Dunn Lake in Vilas 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 Dunn Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Dunn Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 80°F) and coldest in Aug (about 72°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 12 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Dunn Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Dunn Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Dunn Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is stable. 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. Monitored by volunteers since 2024. 2 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 9 ft |
| Surface Area | 77 acres |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Dunn Lake
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.15 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.6 µg/L/yr | 7 |
EPA Impairment Status
Dunn 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 WI10007538 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.71 km)
Graded lakes near Dunn Lake
Dunn Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Vilas County
Frequently asked questions about Dunn Lake
Where is Dunn Lake?
- Dunn Lake is a lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — there is not enough recent sampling to assign a letter.
What is the water quality grade for Dunn Lake?
- Dunn Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 6.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 9 ft. Surface area: 77 acres.
Is Dunn Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Dunn Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Dunn Lake?
- Dunn Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August, from 12 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Dunn Lake?
- Dunn Lake has a maximum depth of 9 feet. The lake covers 77 acres.
What fish are in Dunn Lake?
- Fish species found in Dunn Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Dunn Lake is located in Vilas County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Dunn Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Dunn Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Dunn Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Explore Dunn Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
6 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX6 samples · 2024–2025
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