Lake Ellen is a lake in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.

How deep is Lake Ellen?

Lake Ellen has a maximum depth of 42 feet. The lake covers 112 acres.

What fish are in Lake Ellen?

Fish species found in Lake Ellen include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Lake Ellen is located in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin.

Are there boat ramps on Lake Ellen?

Lake Ellen has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Ellen. Public access is listed as yes.

Can I fish at Lake Ellen?

Lake Ellen has 1 documented boat landing 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.

Lake Ellen

Sheboygan County, Wisconsin112 acresView map Directions

Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Lake Ellen. Here is what has been measured.

Clarity

9 ft

Typical for Wisconsin

Secchi · sampled 2026

Phosphorus

12.4 µg/L

Less phosphorus than most

Measured by Wisconsin DNR

Max depth

42 ft

Bathymetric survey

Area

112 acres

Surface area

Type

Mesotrophic

Trophic class

Trend

Improving

7 years of samples

Mesotrophic
2 aquatic invasives
42 ft max depth
Public access

See the measurements Directions Where to stay

Lake Ellen in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 12.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 42 ft. Surface area: 112 acres.

Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Lake Ellen. DNR survey details →

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Lake Ellen is a 112-acre mesotrophic lake in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 42 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 5 other monitored lakes in Sheboygan County, Lake Ellen ranks #2 for water quality.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-07-07. Methodology: how these readings are compared.

What Lake Ellen is good for

From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.

Boat launch1 documented ramp
Fishing4 species recorded
Deep water42 ft surveyed max depth

Swimming conditions

Readings only

Low algae

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 Lake Ellen 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.

Compare swimming lakes near Oshkosh →

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Water quality measurements for Lake Ellen

These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Lake Ellen, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.

Moderate clarity, visible to about 9 ft. Phosphorus 12.4 µg/L. TSI 43.

Water quality readings
Measure	Reading	Where it sits
Water clarity (Secchi depth)	9ft	Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer.
Total phosphorus	12.4µg/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 Lake Ellen

Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.

DNR fisheries survey

Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Lake Ellen.

A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Lake Ellen’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 1988. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2026).

DNR Assessment

Good · Deep Headwater lake

Trophic State Index 48 (mesotrophic) · 5-year average

Fish Species (DNR-rated)

Panfish(Common)Largemouth Bass(Common)Northern Pike(Common)Walleye(Common)

Contour map (PDF) →Full WI DNR LakePage →Water quality stations →

Lake Details

Max depth

42 ft

Surface area

112 acres

Public access

Yes

Listed by Wisconsin DNR

Lake Size & Watershed

Watershed (drainage) area

10 sq mi

HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS

Shoreline

1.8 mi

HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS

Elevation

833 ft

Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).

Recreation & Access

Boat Landings

Yes

Public Access

Lake EllenPublic

Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps

Stays via Stay22

Stays near Lake Ellen

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Ellen in Sheboygan 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 Lake Ellen

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Follow Lake Ellen’s readings

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Fish Species

Panfish Largemouth Bass Northern Pike Walleye

Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.

Fishing Lake Ellen

Invasive & Introduced Species

Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.

Curly-Leaf PondweedEurasian Water-MilfoilZebra Mussel

Water Quality Trend: Improving

Based on 7 years of monitoring (2020–2026).

Water clarity
Improving
7 years
Phosphorus
Stable
+0.23 µg/L/yr7 years

See year-by-year chart →

Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby

6 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Lake Ellen under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 4 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.

Cascade Wastewater Treatment Facility
Cascade · 2.4 mi away · NPDES WI0031372
Recent violation
Milk Specialties Global - Adell
Adell · 3.7 mi away · NPDES WI0001236
Recent violation
Waldo Wastewater Utility
Waldo · 4.2 mi away · NPDES WI0022471
Recent violation
Wi Dnr Kettle Moraine Springs
Scott Tn · 4.7 mi away · NPDES WI0026255
Recent violation
Hickory Lawn Dairy Farm
Cascade · 2.9 mi away · NPDES WI0064611
Saputo Cheese Usa Inc
Waldo · 3.1 mi away · NPDES WI0052086

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.

Nearby Lakes in Sheboygan County

Waldo Mill Pond—View →Hingham Mill Pond—View →Random Lake4.5 ft clear · Eutrophic—View →Lake Seven—View →Crooked Lake—View →Crystal Lake20 ft clear · Oligotrophic—View →

Frequently asked questions about Lake Ellen

Where is Lake Ellen?: Lake Ellen is a lake in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Lake Ellen?: Lake Ellen in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 12.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 42 ft. Surface area: 112 acres.
Is Lake Ellen safe to swim in?: Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Lake Ellen?: Lake Ellen has a maximum depth of 42 feet. The lake covers 112 acres.
What fish are in Lake Ellen?: Fish species found in Lake Ellen include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Lake Ellen is located in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Lake Ellen?: Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Lake Ellen. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Lake Ellen’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.
Are there boat ramps on Lake Ellen?: Lake Ellen has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Ellen. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Lake Ellen?: Lake Ellen has 1 documented boat landing 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 Lake Ellen across LakeQuality

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Official ratings and named-lake measurements

State Parks Near Lake Ellen

Kohler-Andrae State Park

State Park · 14.5 mi

Harrington Beach State Park

State Park · 15 mi

Other Lakes in Wisconsin

Forest Lake

Fond du Lac County · 14 ft

Long Lake

Fond du Lac County · 9.1 ft

Kettle Moraine Lake

Fond du Lac County · 11 ft

Auburn Lake

Fond du Lac County · 7.6 ft

Sandhill Lake

Ozaukee County · 7.5 ft

Green Lake

Washington County · 9 ft

Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin

Forest Lake Long Lake Kettle Moraine Lake Auburn Lake

Where this data comes from

119 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 ResourcesWIDNR_WQX119 samples · 2020–2026

Analytical methods

Phosphorus by Colorimetry

Monitoring station identifiers (1)

WIDNR_WQX-603311

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.