Kusel Lake
Kusel Lake in Waushara County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 11.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 16.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 29 ft. Surface area: 74 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Largemouth Bass as abundant on Kusel Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 11.5 ft
- Max depth
- 29 ft
- Area
- 74 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Kusel Lake is a 74-acre mesotrophic lake in Waushara County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 29 feet. Water quality is graded B 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 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 15 other monitored lakes in Waushara County, Kusel Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-03-29. Grade methodology: LakeQuality 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)
Good clarity, visible to about 11.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 16.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 16.2 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Kusel Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Kusel Lake in Waushara 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Kusel Lake
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Wisconsin DNR rates Largemouth Bass as abundant on Kusel Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Kusel Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 7 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. Monitored by volunteers since 1999. 3 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Kusel Lake covering fish populations, stocking, water quality, and management. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- 2021Kusel Lake spring shocking survey, 2021Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2021 (PDF)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 29 ft |
| Surface Area | 74 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Archer LanePublic
- Kusel Lake County ParkPublic
- Kusel LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Kusel 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: ↓ Declining
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.296 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.26 µg/L/yr | 7 |
County Ranking
Ranked #3 of 16 lakes in Waushara County
Nearby Lakes in Waushara County
Frequently asked questions about Kusel Lake
Where is Kusel Lake?
- Kusel Lake is a lake in Waushara County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Kusel Lake?
- Kusel Lake in Waushara County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 11.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 16.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 29 ft. Surface area: 74 acres.
Is Kusel Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Kusel Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Kusel Lake?
- Kusel Lake has a maximum depth of 29 feet. The lake covers 74 acres.
What fish are in Kusel Lake?
- Fish species found in Kusel Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Kusel Lake is located in Waushara County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Kusel Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Largemouth Bass as abundant on Kusel Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Kusel Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Kusel Lake?
- Kusel Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Archer Lane, Kusel Lake County Park, Kusel Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Kusel Lake across LakeQuality
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Fish species and best lakes in Waushara County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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State Parks Near Kusel Lake
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Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
79 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX79 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory