Golden Lake
Golden Lake in Waukesha County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 12.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 44 ft. Surface area: 288 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Golden Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 12.8 ft
- Max depth
- 44 ft
- Area
- 288 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Golden Lake is a 288-acre mesotrophic lake in Waukesha County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 44 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. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 34 other monitored lakes in Waukesha County, Golden Lake ranks #31 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-22. 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)
Good clarity, visible to about 12.8 ft. Phosphorus level: 14.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 42.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 14.4 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 42 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Golden Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Golden Lake in Waukesha 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 Golden Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Golden Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Golden Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 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 1989. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 44 ft |
| Surface Area | 288 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Golden 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 Golden 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 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.75 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.52 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
3 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Golden Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 3 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Great Lakes Investors Llc WwtfConcord · 3 mi away · NPDES WI0060607Recent violation
- Sullivan San Dist 1 WwtfSullivan · 3.3 mi away · NPDES WI0031844Recent violation
- Sullivan WwtfSullivan · 3.5 mi away · NPDES WI0025585Recent violation
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 #31 of 35 lakes in Waukesha County
Nearby Lakes in Waukesha County
Frequently asked questions about Golden Lake
Where is Golden Lake?
- Golden Lake is a lake in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Golden Lake?
- Golden Lake in Waukesha County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 12.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 44 ft. Surface area: 288 acres.
Is Golden Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Golden Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Golden Lake?
- Golden Lake has a maximum depth of 44 feet. The lake covers 288 acres.
What fish are in Golden Lake?
- Fish species found in Golden Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Golden Lake is located in Waukesha County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Golden Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Golden Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Golden Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Golden Lake?
- Golden Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Golden Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Golden Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Waukesha County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Wisconsin's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Golden Lake
Other Grade B Lakes in Wisconsin
Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
50 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX50 samples · 2021–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
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
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