Gilkey Lake
Gilkey Lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 6 ft. Surface area: 21 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Gilkey Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 6 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Max depth
- 6 ft
- Area
- 21 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
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Why Gilkey Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Gilkey Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity and phosphorus, but not algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by WI DNR and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Gilkey Lake is a 21-acre lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 6 feet. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 2 documented fish species including Panfish and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2024-09-10. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Watch Gilkey Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Gilkey Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 6 ft. Phosphorus level: 10.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 45.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 10.4 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Gilkey Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Gilkey Lake in Oconto 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 Gilkey Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Gilkey Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 77°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 81°F) and coldest in Sep (about 69°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 8 field readings (2024–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Gilkey Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Gilkey Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Gilkey Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is stable. 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. 3 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 6 ft |
| Surface Area | 21 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Gilkey LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Gilkey 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: → Stable
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -2 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.47 µg/L/yr | 7 |
Graded lakes near Gilkey Lake
Gilkey Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Oconto County
Frequently asked questions about Gilkey Lake
Where is Gilkey Lake?
- Gilkey Lake is a lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — there is not enough recent sampling to assign a letter.
What is the water quality grade for Gilkey Lake?
- Gilkey Lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 6 ft. Surface area: 21 acres.
Is Gilkey Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Gilkey Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Gilkey Lake?
- Gilkey Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, from 8 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Gilkey Lake?
- Gilkey Lake has a maximum depth of 6 feet. The lake covers 21 acres.
What fish are in Gilkey Lake?
- Fish species found in Gilkey Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass. Gilkey Lake is located in Oconto County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Gilkey Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Gilkey Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Gilkey Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Gilkey Lake?
- Gilkey Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Gilkey Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Gilkey Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
11 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX11 samples · 2023–2024
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
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory