Helen Lake
Iowa County, Wisconsin16 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Helen Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Curly-Leaf Pondweed
- 28 ft max depth
- Public access
Helen Lake in Iowa County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 3.4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 54.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 28 ft. Surface area: 16 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as present on Helen Lake. DNR survey details →
Helen Lake is a 16-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Iowa County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 28 feet. 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 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Helen Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing4 species recorded
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyElevated nutrients
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Helen Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Helen Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Helen Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Murky, only visible to about 3.4 ft. Phosphorus 54.7 µg/L. TSI 61.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 3.4ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 54.7µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | No reading The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. | |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 61 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Helen Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Helen Lake typically sits around 52°F at the surface in October. 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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (52°F) to its warmest (78°F).
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 →
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as present on Helen Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Helen Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 5 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. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
Max depth
28 ft
Surface area
16 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Recreation & Access
- Helen LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays 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 readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Helen Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Helen Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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 →
Follow Helen Lake’s readings
Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.
Or email
Fish Species
Click a species to see every 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.
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 5 years of monitoring (2021–2025).
Water clarity
Stable5 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+2.48 µg/L/yr5 years
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.
Nearby Lakes in Iowa County
Frequently asked questions about Helen Lake
Where is Helen Lake?
- Helen Lake is a lake in Iowa County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Helen Lake?
- Helen Lake in Iowa County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. 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?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Helen Lake?
- Helen Lake typically sits around 52°F at the surface in October, 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.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Helen Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as present on Helen Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Helen Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Helen Lake?
- Helen Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Helen Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Helen Lake?
- Helen Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Wisconsin's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Helen Lake across LakeQuality
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Iowa County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Wisconsin River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Wisconsin's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Wisconsin
State Parks Near Helen Lake
Other Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
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)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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