Friess Lake
Friess Lake in Washington County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 32.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 48 ft. Surface area: 121 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Friess Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 4 ft
- Typical in August
- 76°F
- Max depth
- 48 ft
- Area
- 121 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
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Friess Lake is a 121-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Washington County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 48 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Compared to the 12 other monitored lakes in Washington County, Friess Lake ranks #8 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-23. Grade methodology: LakeQuality 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)
Murky, only visible to about 4 ft. Phosphorus level: 32.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 56.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 32.9 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 56 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Friess Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Friess Lake in Washington 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 Friess Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Friess Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 79°F. Usually warmest in Jun (about 81°F) and coldest in May (about 65°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 16 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Friess Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Friess Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Friess Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is declining. 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 1986. 2 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 48 ft |
| Surface Area | 121 acres |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Friess 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: ↓ Declining
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -1.054 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.68 µg/L/yr | 7 |
EPA Impairment Status
Friess 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 WI10007980 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #8 of 13 lakes in Washington County
Nearby Lakes in Washington County
Frequently asked questions about Friess Lake
Where is Friess Lake?
- Friess Lake is a lake in Washington County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Friess Lake?
- Friess Lake in Washington County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 32.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 48 ft. Surface area: 121 acres.
Is Friess Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Friess Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Friess Lake?
- Friess Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August, from 16 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Friess Lake?
- Friess Lake has a maximum depth of 48 feet. The lake covers 121 acres.
What fish are in Friess Lake?
- Fish species found in Friess Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Friess Lake is located in Washington County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Friess Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Friess Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Friess Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Explore Friess Lake across LakeQuality
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
87 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_WQX87 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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes