What is the water quality grade for Hope Lake?

Hope Lake in Jefferson County, Wisconsin received a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 8 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 24 ft. Surface area: 108 acres.

Is Hope Lake safe to swim in?

Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Hope Lake has an overall water quality grade of C. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.

How deep is Hope Lake?

Hope Lake has a maximum depth of 24 feet. The lake covers 108 acres.

What fish are in Hope Lake?

Fish species found in Hope Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Hope Lake is located in Jefferson County, Wisconsin.

Hope Lake

Jefferson County, WisconsinLimited DataMesotrophic

The LakeGrade rubric puts Hope Lake at a C: clarity at 8.0 ft, phosphorus readings still being added, and a TSI of 47 signal an intermediate trophic state.

Mesotrophic conditions dominate at Hope Lake: enough nutrients for a healthy fishery, not so much that algal blooms become a chronic problem. A maximum depth of 24 ft puts Hope Lake in the middle of Wisconsin's depth distribution. At 108 acres, Hope Lake fits the Wisconsin median for monitored lakes, with partial shoreline records. Hope Lake sits at rank 5 of 8 in Jefferson County, in the lower half of the local distribution.

Hope Lake has no invasive species recorded in Wisconsin state databases as of 2024, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. Bass fishing is part of the appeal: the species list runs to 3, anchored by largemouth and/or smallmouth bass. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2024-09-20. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

Reviewed by LakeQuality Editorial Team · Updated May 31, 2026