Elkhart Lake
Elkhart Lake in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 10.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 119 ft. Surface area: 292 acres.
- Clarity
- 10.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 81°F
- Max depth
- 119 ft
- Area
- 292 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Sheboygan County
Elkhart Lake is a 292-acre mesotrophic lake in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 119 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 7 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 5 other monitored lakes in Sheboygan County, Elkhart Lake ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-20. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Good clarity, visible to about 10.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 13.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 42.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 13.2 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 42 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Elkhart Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Elkhart Lake in Sheboygan 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 Elkhart Lake
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Water Temperature
Elkhart Lake typically sits around 81°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 81°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 82°F) and coldest in May (about 60°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 8 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Elkhart Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 119 ft |
| Surface Area | 292 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Elkhart LakePublic
- Sheboygan Marsh ParkPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Elkhart 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. Monitored by volunteers since 1992. 3 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.127 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.52 µg/L/yr | 7 |
EPA Impairment Status
Elkhart 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 WI10001225 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
3 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Elkhart Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Kiel Wastewater Treatment FacilityKiel · 2.1 mi away · NPDES WI0020141Recent violation
- J C Maurer & Sons Inc.Russell, Town Of · 4 mi away · NPDES WI0064726Recent violation
- Drake Dairy IncElkhart Lake · 3.5 mi away · NPDES WI0063827
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 6 lakes in Sheboygan County
Nearby Lakes in Sheboygan County
Frequently asked questions about Elkhart Lake
What is the water quality grade for Elkhart Lake?
- Elkhart Lake in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 10.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 119 ft. Surface area: 292 acres.
Is Elkhart Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Elkhart Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Elkhart Lake?
- Elkhart Lake typically sits around 81°F at the surface in August, from 8 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Elkhart Lake?
- Elkhart Lake has a maximum depth of 119 feet. The lake covers 292 acres.
What fish are in Elkhart Lake?
- Fish species found in Elkhart Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Trout, Walleye. Elkhart Lake is located in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Elkhart Lake?
- Elkhart Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Elkhart Lake, Sheboygan Marsh Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Elkhart Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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State Parks Near Elkhart Lake
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Where this data comes from
47 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX47 samples · 2020–2026
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
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