Helen Lake
Helen Lake in Iowa County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 54.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 28 ft. Surface area: 16 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.4 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Max depth
- 28 ft
- Area
- 16 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Helen Lake →
Next lake in Iowa County
Helen Lake is a 16-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Iowa County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 28 feet. Water quality is graded D 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 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 5 other monitored lakes in Iowa County, Helen Lake ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-05-27. 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)
Murky, only visible to about 3.4 ft. Phosphorus level: 54.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 61.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 54.7 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 61 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Helen Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Helen Lake in Iowa 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 Helen Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Helen 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 whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Helen Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 76°F. Usually warmest in Jun (about 78°F) and coldest in Oct (about 52°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 24 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Helen Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 28 ft |
| Surface Area | 16 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Highway 14 BridgePublic
- Helen LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Helen 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. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.01 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +2.48 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Helen Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Arena Cheese, Inc.Arena · 4.6 mi away · NPDES WI0052035
- Mill Creek Cheese FactoryArena · 4.6 mi away · NPDES WI0055174
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 #5 of 6 lakes in Iowa County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Helen Lake holds Grade D. 3 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 Iowa County
Frequently asked questions about Helen Lake
What is the water quality grade for Helen Lake?
- Helen Lake in Iowa County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 54.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 28 ft. Surface area: 16 acres.
Is Helen 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. Helen Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Helen Lake?
- Helen Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, from 24 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Helen Lake?
- Helen Lake has a maximum depth of 28 feet. The lake covers 16 acres.
What fish are in Helen Lake?
- Fish species found in Helen Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Helen Lake is located in Iowa County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Helen Lake?
- Helen Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Highway 14 Bridge, Helen Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Helen Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
67 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_WQX67 samples · 2021–2026
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory