Eagle Lake
Racine County, WisconsinHypereutrophic
Eagle Lake earns an F: 113 µg/L of phosphorus and clarity at 1.5 ft signal heavy nutrient loading from the surrounding watershed. Clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.
Hypereutrophic conditions mean the lake is operating at the upper end of the productivity scale, with all the bloom risk that implies. At only 11 ft deep, Eagle Lake is shallow — wind keeps the water column mixed and sediment resuspension drives phosphorus levels harder to manage. Eagle Lake covers 529 acres alongside partial shoreline records — a mid-sized water that supports a working fishery without being so large that conditions diverge between basins. Eagle Lake ranks 7 of 7 in Racine County — at the lower end of the locally monitored distribution.
Eurasian watermilfoil is established at Eagle Lake, which can dampen recreational access and pressure the native plant community. The fishery includes walleye alongside the lake's other 5 documented species — a notable draw for Wisconsin anglers. Public access is available — the lake is on the Wisconsin DNR public-access list. 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 2026-06-08. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Eagle Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 1.5 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 113 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 72.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.5 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | 113 µg/L | F |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 72 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 11 ft |
| Surface Area | 529 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
→ Best fishing times for Eagle Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Eagle Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Eagle 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.
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.025 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -6.78 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Recreation & Access
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #7 of 7 lakes in Racine County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Eagle Lake holds Grade F. 5 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
- APaddock LakeKenosha County · mi · Two grade letters higher (F → A)
- BBrowns LakeRacine County · mi · Two grade letters higher (F → B)
- CTichigan LakeRacine County · mi · Two grade letters higher (F → C)
- DWind LakeRacine County · mi · Higher grade (F → D)
- DWind LakeRacine County · mi · Higher grade (F → D)
Nearby Lakes in Racine County
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Eagle Lake
Other Grade F Lakes in Wisconsin
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Compare Eagle Lake With Nearby Lakes
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 1990. 6 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Eagle Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Eagle Lake (completed 1917), built primarily for recreation on the EAGLE CREEK; gravity-type dam, 8 ft tall and 800 ft long.
- Surface area
- 515 ac
- Normal storage
- 2,500 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 3,600 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 7 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Racine County
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI01114 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Eagle 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 WI10000561 · Official waterbody report
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2026-06-08
Monitoring stations: 1
Where to stay near Eagle Lake
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