Fox Lake
Dodge County, Wisconsin2,713 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Fox Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- 4 aquatic invasives
- 19 ft max depth
- Public access
Fox Lake in Dodge County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 102.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 19 ft. Surface area: 2713 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Musky as common on Fox Lake. DNR survey details →
Fox Lake is a 2,713-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Dodge County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 19 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Dodge County, Fox Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-21. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Fox Lake covers about 2,700 acres in Dodge County. It has 3 public boat landings, so a lakefront rental is not the only way to get a boat on the water. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Fox Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What Fox Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch3 documented ramps
- Fishing5 species recorded
- Big water2,713 acres
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Fox Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), turbidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Fox Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Fox Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Fox Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Very murky, less than 2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 102.4 µg/L. TSI 69.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 2ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 102µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | No reading The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. | |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 69 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Fox Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Fox Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 76°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 79°F) and coldest in Mar (about 44°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (44°F) to its warmest (79°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 28 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Fox Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Fox Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was moderate (66,069 cells/mL) on November 1, 2025.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Wisconsin DNR lists Musky as common on Fox Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Fox Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is improving. 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 1987. 6 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Fox 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).
- 2019Fox Lake comprehensive survey, 2019Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2019 (PDF)
Lake Details
Max depth
19 ft
Surface area
2,713 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
52 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
16.6 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
889 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Town of Fox Lake ParkPublic
- Clausen ParkPublic
- Fox Lake Fishery AreaPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Fox Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Fox Lake in Dodge 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. The water-quality readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Fox Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Fox Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip? Cabins and lodging at Fox Lake → · more Wisconsin lake trips
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Fox 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.
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 7 years of monitoring (2020–2026).
Water clarity
Improving7 years
Phosphorus
Improving-5.35 µg/L/yr7 years
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Fox Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Fox Lake (completed 1838), built primarily for recreation on the OLD MILL CREEK; gravity-type dam, 16 ft tall and 420 ft long.
- Surface area
- 2,625 ac
- Normal storage
- 14,400 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 22,000 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 52 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- City Of Fox Lake
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI00253 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Fox Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life, Recreation.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10001260 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
3 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Fox Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Randolph Wastewater TreatmentRandolph · 4.8 mi away · NPDES WI0031160Recent violation
- Wi Doc Fox Lk Correctional Institution WwtfFox Lake · 3.1 mi away · NPDES WI0060470
- Lakeview Dairy LlcTrenton, Town Of · 3.7 mi away · NPDES WI0065668
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.
Nearby Lakes in Dodge County
Frequently asked questions about Fox Lake
Where is Fox Lake?
- Fox Lake is a lake in Dodge County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Fox Lake?
- Fox Lake in Dodge County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 102.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 19 ft. Surface area: 2713 acres.
Is Fox Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Fox Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), turbidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Fox Lake?
- Fox Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in September, from 28 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Fox Lake?
- Fox Lake has a maximum depth of 19 feet. The lake covers 2713 acres.
What fish are in Fox Lake?
- Fish species found in Fox Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Fox Lake is located in Dodge County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Fox Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Musky as common on Fox Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Fox Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Does Fox Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Fox Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was moderate (66,069 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Wisconsin's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Fox Lake?
- Fox Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Town of Fox Lake Park, Clausen Park, Fox Lake Fishery Area. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Fox Lake?
- Fox Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Wisconsin's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Fox Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Dodge County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its readings
Wisconsin's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Wisconsin
Other Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Compare Fox Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
101 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_WQX101 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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