La Motte Lake
La Motte Lake in Menominee County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 16.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 71 ft. Surface area: 182 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Largemouth Bass and Northern Pike as abundant on La Motte Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 16.8 ft
- Typical in August
- 74°F
- Max depth
- 71 ft
- Area
- 182 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
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La Motte Lake is a 182-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Menominee County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 71 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 2 documented fish species including Largemouth Bass and Northern Pike. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Menominee County, La Motte Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2022-08-27. 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)
Crystal clear, you can see 16.8 ft down. Phosphorus level: 13.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 39.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 16.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 13.6 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 39 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near La Motte Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near La Motte Lake in Menominee 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 La Motte Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
La Motte Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 78°F) and coldest in Feb (about 40°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 54 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full La Motte Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR rates Largemouth Bass and Northern Pike as abundant on La Motte Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades La Motte Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is improving. 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. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2022).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 71 ft |
| Surface Area | 182 acres |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing La Motte 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: ↑ Improving
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.057 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.12 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of La Motte Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Keshena WwtfKeshena · 1.1 mi away · NPDES WI0071315Recent violation
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 #3 of 3 lakes in Menominee County
Nearby Lakes in Menominee County
Frequently asked questions about La Motte Lake
Where is La Motte Lake?
- La Motte Lake is a lake in Menominee County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for La Motte Lake?
- La Motte Lake in Menominee County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 16.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 71 ft. Surface area: 182 acres.
Is La Motte Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. La Motte Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of La Motte Lake?
- La Motte Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August, from 54 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is La Motte Lake?
- La Motte Lake has a maximum depth of 71 feet. The lake covers 182 acres.
What fish are in La Motte Lake?
- Fish species found in La Motte Lake include Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. La Motte Lake is located in Menominee County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at La Motte Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Largemouth Bass and Northern Pike as abundant on La Motte Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades La Motte Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
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Where this data comes from
9 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX9 samples · 2020–2022
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes