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Dutch Hollow Lake

Sauk County, WisconsinOligotrophic

On the LakeGrade rubric, Dutch Hollow Lake pulls an A: clarity at 15.0 ft and 13 µg/L of phosphorus put it in the top bracket for Wisconsin. clarity and phosphorus rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.

Trophically, Dutch Hollow Lake reads as oligotrophic — nutrient-poor, clear, and ecologically more sensitive to disturbance than richer lakes. A maximum depth of 38 ft puts Dutch Hollow Lake in the middle of Wisconsin's depth distribution. The lake's 172 acres and partial shoreline records put it in the mid-range bucket — large enough for varied use, small enough that watershed inputs reach the whole basin. Within Sauk County's 11 graded waters, Dutch Hollow Lake sits at rank 1, near the top of the local distribution.

Eurasian watermilfoil is established at Dutch Hollow Lake, which can dampen recreational access and pressure the native plant community. Walleye are documented at Dutch Hollow Lake, one of 2 fish species on record for the lake. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-08-29. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

Reviewed by LakeQuality Editorial Team · Updated

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Swimming Safety

Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae

Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent

Crystal clear, you can see 15 ft down. Phosphorus level: 13.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 40.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)15 ftA
Phosphorus13.1 µg/LA
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)No data
Trophic State Index (TSI)40Oligotrophic

Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming

Lake Details

CharacteristicValue
Maximum Depth38 ft
Surface Area172 acres

Fish Species

Click a species to see all Wisconsin and Minnesota lakes where it is found.

→ Best fishing times for Dutch Hollow Lake (14-day solunar calendar)

→ Is it safe to eat fish from Dutch Hollow Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)

Dutch Hollow Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)

Invasive & Introduced Species

Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.

Banded Mystery SnailCurly-Leaf PondweedEurasian Water-MilfoilHybrid Eurasian / Northern Water-MilfoilPurple Loosestrife

Water Quality Trend: Declining

Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).

MetricTrendChange/YearYears
Water Clarity Declining-0.457 m/yr6
Phosphorus Stable-0.01 µg/L/yr6
See year-by-year chart →

Location

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County Ranking

Ranked #1 of 11 lakes in Sauk County

Nearby Lakes in Sauk County

WI DNR Lake Profile

Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 1998. 5 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).

DNR Assessment
Excellent · Reservoir lake
Trophic State Index 39 (oligotrophic) · 5-year average

Fish Species (DNR-rated)

Largemouth Bass(Common)Walleye(Present)

Reservoir Info (USACE NID)

Dutch Hollow Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Dutch Hollow Lake (completed 1971), built primarily for recreation on the Dutch Hollow Creek; earth-type dam, 60 ft tall and 750 ft long.

Surface area
125 ac
Normal storage
1,250 ac-ft
Max storage
5,500 ac-ft
Drainage area
5 sq mi
Hazard class
Low
Owner
Dutch Hollow Lake Property Owners' Association, Inc.

Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI00193 · Operator website

Data Sources

Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal

Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards

Most recent sample: 2025-08-29

Monitoring stations: 1