Fox Lake
Fox Lake in Dodge County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 102.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 19 ft. Surface area: 2713 acres.
- Clarity
- 2 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Max depth
- 19 ft
- Area
- 2,713 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Fox Lake →
Next lake in Dodge County
Fox Lake is a 2,713-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Dodge County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 19 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2026. 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. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyElevated nutrients
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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 102.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 69.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 102.4 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 69 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay 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 grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Fox Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Fox Lake
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
Water Temperature
Fox Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. 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.
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 ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 19 ft |
| Surface Area | 2,713 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Town of Fox Lake ParkPublic
- Clausen ParkPublic
- Fox Lake Fishery AreaPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded 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.
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)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.155 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -5.35 µg/L/yr | 7 |
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
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 3 lakes in Dodge County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Fox Lake holds Grade D. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Dodge County
Frequently asked questions about Fox Lake
What is the water quality grade for Fox Lake?
- Fox Lake in Dodge County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). 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?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Fox Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Fox Lake?
- Fox Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, 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.
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.
Explore Fox Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded 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 grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Wisconsin's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Wisconsin
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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)
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