Lake
Lake in Columbia County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 92.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 24 ft. Surface area: 7197 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 2.5 ft
- Max depth
- 24 ft
- Area
- 7,197 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Lake →
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Lake is a 7,197-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Columbia County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 24 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2026. The lake supports 7 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Smallmouth Bass. Public access is available with 6 public boat landings. Compared to the 5 other monitored lakes in Columbia County, Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-19. 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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 2.5 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 92.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 67.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 92.9 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 67 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake in Columbia 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Lake
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 trip? Cabins and lodging at Lake → · more Wisconsin lake trips
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was high (839,460 cells/mL) on July 18, 2026.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Lake D from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is stable. 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 1993. 44 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 24 ft |
| Surface Area | 7,197 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- West Harmony DrivePublic
- Bay DrivePublic
- Red Cedar DrivePublic
- Old Sauk RoadPublic
- Eagle DrivePublic
- Linda CirclePublic
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 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: → Stable
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.043 m/yr | 6 |
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Lodi Canning CoLodi · 4.9 mi away · NPDES WI0002658Recent violation
- Lodi Wastewater Treatment FacilityLodi · 4.9 mi away · NPDES WI0022918Recent 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 6 lakes in Columbia County
Nearby Lakes in Columbia County
Frequently asked questions about Lake
Where is Lake?
- Lake is a lake in Columbia County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Lake?
- Lake in Columbia County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 92.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 24 ft. Surface area: 7197 acres.
Is Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Lake?
- Lake has a maximum depth of 24 feet. The lake covers 7197 acres.
What fish are in Lake?
- Fish species found in Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Trout, Walleye, Catfish. Lake is located in Columbia County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Lake D from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Does Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was high (839,460 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Wisconsin's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Lake?
- Lake has 6 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include West Harmony Drive, Bay Drive, Red Cedar Drive, Old Sauk Road, among others. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Columbia County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Madison Area Lakes area
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Wisconsin River Watershed, ranked by water quality
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Wisconsin's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Lake
Other Grade D Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
217 measurements from 9 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_WQX217 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (9)
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory