Horseshoe Lake
Horseshoe Lake in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 6.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 36.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 54 ft. Surface area: 21 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.5 ft
- Max depth
- 54 ft
- Area
- 21 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Manitowoc County
Horseshoe Lake is a 21-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 54 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is improving 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 15 other monitored lakes in Manitowoc County, Horseshoe Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2024-08-19. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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)
Murky, only visible to about 6.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 36.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 53.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 36.2 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 53 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Horseshoe Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Horseshoe Lake in Manitowoc 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.
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 54 ft |
| Surface Area | 21 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Horseshoe LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Horseshoe 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 2024).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -9.31 µg/L/yr | 4 |
EPA Impairment Status
Horseshoe Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10000119 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Horseshoe Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Siemers Holstein Farm IncCleveland · 1.2 mi away · NPDES WI0058572Recent violation
- Mueller Range Line DairyMeeme, Town Of · 4.5 mi away · NPDES WI0066095
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 #4 of 16 lakes in Manitowoc County
Nearby Lakes in Manitowoc County
Frequently asked questions about Horseshoe Lake
What is the water quality grade for Horseshoe Lake?
- Horseshoe Lake in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 6.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 36.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 54 ft. Surface area: 21 acres.
Is Horseshoe Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Horseshoe Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Horseshoe Lake?
- Horseshoe Lake has a maximum depth of 54 feet. The lake covers 21 acres.
What fish are in Horseshoe Lake?
- Fish species found in Horseshoe Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Trout. Horseshoe Lake is located in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Horseshoe Lake?
- Horseshoe Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Horseshoe Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Horseshoe Lake across LakeGrade
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
7 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX7 samples · 2020–2024
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
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