Kusel Lake
Waushara County, Wisconsin74 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Kusel Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- 2 aquatic invasives
- 29 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Kusel Lake in Waushara County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. 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 →
Kusel Lake is a 74-acre mesotrophic lake in Waushara County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 29 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 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Kusel Lake covers about 74 acres in Waushara County. It has 3 public boat landings, so a lakefront rental is not the only way to get a boat on the water. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Kusel Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What Kusel Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water11.5 ft of visibility
- Boat launch3 documented ramps
- Fishing4 species recorded
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
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 Kusel 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 Kusel Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Kusel Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 11.5 ft. Phosphorus 16.2 µg/L. TSI 43.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 11.5ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 16.2µg/L | Good 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. | 43 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Kusel Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Wisconsin DNR rates Largemouth Bass as abundant on Kusel Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Kusel Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, 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
Max depth
29 ft
Surface area
74 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
1 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
2.3 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
883 ft
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
Stays via Stay22
Stays 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
Prices for Oct 16–18, 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 Kusel Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every 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: Worsening
Based on 7 years of monitoring (2020–2026).
Water clarity
Worsening6 years
Phosphorus
Stable+0.26 µg/L/yr7 years
Nearby Lakes in Waushara County
Frequently asked questions about Kusel Lake
Where is Kusel Lake?
- Kusel Lake is a lake in Waushara County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Kusel Lake?
- Kusel Lake in Waushara County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. 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?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
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 water quality. LakeQuality shows Kusel Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, 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.
Can I fish at Kusel Lake?
- Kusel Lake has 3 documented boat landings 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 Kusel Lake across LakeQuality
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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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)
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
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