Ellwood Lake
Ellwood Lake in Florence County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 13 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 12 µg/L. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 130 acres.
- Clarity
- 13 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Max depth
- 25 ft
- Area
- 130 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Florence County
Ellwood Lake is a 130-acre mesotrophic lake in Florence County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 25 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 4 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Smallmouth Bass. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 11 other monitored lakes in Florence County, Ellwood Lake ranks #7 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 13 ft. Phosphorus level: 12 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 40.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 12 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Ellwood Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Ellwood Lake in Florence 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.
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Water Temperature
Ellwood Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in Jun (about 72°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 18 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Ellwood Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 25 ft |
| Surface Area | 130 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Ellwood LakePublic
- Pine RiverSemi-private
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Ellwood 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 1994. 4 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Ellwood 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).
- 2022Ellwood Lake shocking and netting survey, 2022Netting Survey · WI DNR · 2022 (PDF)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.357 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.11 µg/L/yr | 7 |
County Ranking
Ranked #7 of 12 lakes in Florence County
Nearby Lakes in Florence County
Frequently asked questions about Ellwood Lake
What is the water quality grade for Ellwood Lake?
- Ellwood Lake in Florence County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 13 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 12 µg/L. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 130 acres.
Is Ellwood Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Ellwood Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Ellwood Lake?
- Ellwood Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, from 18 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Ellwood Lake?
- Ellwood Lake has a maximum depth of 25 feet. The lake covers 130 acres.
What fish are in Ellwood Lake?
- Fish species found in Ellwood Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike. Ellwood Lake is located in Florence County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Ellwood Lake?
- Ellwood Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Ellwood Lake, Pine River. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Ellwood Lake across LakeGrade
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Fish species and best lakes in Florence County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Other Grade B Lakes in Wisconsin
Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
51 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX51 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
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