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LakeQuality
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Kangaroo Lake

Door County, WisconsinOligotrophic

Kangaroo Lake sits at the top of the Wisconsin DNR grading rubric with an A, a mark reached by the cleanest lakes in Wisconsin. The three sub-grades — clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a — track close together, so no single parameter is dragging the average.

The lake's low TSI puts it in oligotrophic territory — the cleanest of the four trophic classes, but also the most vulnerable to nutrient-driven shifts. The lake's maximum depth is not yet documented in state morphometric records — context for its physical structure remains limited. With 1,156 acres of surface and partial shoreline records, Kangaroo Lake is a large water by Wisconsin standards — recreational pressure is spread across a long shoreline. Among the 11 graded lakes in Door County, Kangaroo Lake ranks 2 — in the top quartile locally.

Zebra mussel presence at Kangaroo Lake means the lake's clarity numbers carry an asterisk — filtered water is not the same as nutrient-poor water. The fishery includes walleye alongside the lake's other 5 documented species — a notable draw for Wisconsin anglers. Public access is available — the lake is on the Wisconsin DNR public-access list. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-08-31. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

Swimming Safety

Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae

Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent

Crystal clear, you can see 27.9 ft down. Phosphorus level: 13.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 35.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)27.9 ftA
Phosphorus13.2 µg/LA
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)No data
Trophic State Index (TSI)35Oligotrophic

Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming

Lake Details

CharacteristicValue
Surface Area1.2K acres
Public AccessYes

Fish Species

Click a species to see all Wisconsin and Minnesota lakes where it is found.

→ Best fishing times for Kangaroo Lake (14-day solunar calendar)

→ Is it safe to eat fish from Kangaroo Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)

Kangaroo Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)

Invasive Species

Eurasian Water-MilfoilZebra Mussel

Water Quality Trend: Stable

Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).

MetricTrendChange/YearYears
Water Clarity Declining-0.179 m/yr7
Phosphorus Improving-0.51 µg/L/yr6
See year-by-year chart →

Recreation & Access

1
Boat Landings
Yes
Public Access

Location

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County Ranking

Ranked #2 of 11 lakes in Door County

Nearby Lakes in Door County

WI DNR Lake Profile

Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 1992. 3 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).

DNR Assessment
Excellent · Shallow Lowland lake
Trophic State Index 43 (mesotrophic) · 5-year average

Fish Species (DNR-rated)

Panfish(Common)Smallmouth Bass(Common)Walleye(Common)Largemouth Bass(Present)Northern Pike(Present)

Data Sources

Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal

Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards

Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes

Most recent sample: 2025-08-31

Monitoring stations: 1