Lac la Belle Lake
Waukesha County, Wisconsin1,154 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Lac la Belle Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- 3 aquatic invasives
- 45 ft max depth
- Public access
Lac la Belle Lake in Waukesha County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 4.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 45 ft. Surface area: 1154 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Lac la Belle Lake. DNR survey details →
Lac la Belle Lake is a 1,154-acre mesotrophic lake in Waukesha County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 45 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Smallmouth Bass. Public access is available. Compared to the 34 other monitored lakes in Waukesha County, Lac la Belle Lake ranks #16 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-18. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Lac la Belle Lake covers about 1,200 acres in Waukesha County. If you are planning to stay, you can search lake houses and cabins around Lac la Belle Lake on Vrbo, or look for a hotel room near the lake on Booking.com or Expedia.
What Lac la Belle Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Fishing5 species recorded
- Deep water45 ft surveyed max depth
- Big water1,154 acres
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
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. Lac la Belle Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Lac la Belle 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 Lac la Belle Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Lac la Belle Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Murky, only visible to about 4.8 ft. Phosphorus 14.7 µg/L. TSI 49.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 4.8ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 14.7µg/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. | 49 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Lac la Belle Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Lac la Belle Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 77°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 79°F) and coldest in May (about 65°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (65°F) to its warmest (79°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 22 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lac la Belle Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Lac la Belle Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was moderate (87,096 cells/mL) on March 28, 2026.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Lac la Belle Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Lac la Belle Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, 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. Monitored by volunteers since 1986. 6 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
Max depth
45 ft
Surface area
1,154 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Lac la Belle Lake
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Top-rated places to stay near Lac la Belle Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lac la Belle Lake
- → Lac la Belle Lake fishing: DNR survey catch rates, species & stocking
- → Lac la Belle Lake fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → Lac la Belle Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from Lac la Belle Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
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 (2020–2026).
Water clarity
Improving7 years
Phosphorus
Improving-0.55 µg/L/yr7 years
EPA Impairment Status
Lac la Belle Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life, Fish consumption, Recreation.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10001317 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Waukesha County
Frequently asked questions about Lac la Belle Lake
Where is Lac la Belle Lake?
- Lac la Belle Lake is a lake in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Lac la Belle Lake?
- Lac la Belle Lake in Waukesha County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 4.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 45 ft. Surface area: 1154 acres.
Is Lac la Belle Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Lac la Belle Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Lac la Belle Lake?
- Lac la Belle Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in September, from 22 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Lac la Belle Lake?
- Lac la Belle Lake has a maximum depth of 45 feet. The lake covers 1154 acres.
What fish are in Lac la Belle Lake?
- Fish species found in Lac la Belle Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Lac la Belle Lake is located in Waukesha County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Lac la Belle Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Lac la Belle Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Lac la Belle Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, 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.
Does Lac la Belle Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Lac la Belle Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was moderate (87,096 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Wisconsin's current advisory before swimming.
Can I fish at Lac la Belle Lake?
- Public access to Lac la Belle Lake is listed as yes on the lake record. 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 Lac la Belle Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Fish species and best lakes in Waukesha County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its readings
Wisconsin's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Where this data comes from
161 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX161 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes