Lake Ellen
Lake Ellen in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 12.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 42 ft. Surface area: 112 acres.
- Clarity
- 9 ft
- Max depth
- 42 ft
- Area
- 112 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Sheboygan County
Lake Ellen is a 112-acre mesotrophic lake in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 42 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2026. 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. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9 ft. Phosphorus level: 12.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 12.4 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay 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.
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 42 ft |
| Surface Area | 112 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Lake EllenPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded 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.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 1988. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2026).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.268 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.23 µg/L/yr | 7 |
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 FacilityCascade · 2.4 mi away · NPDES WI0031372Recent violation
- Milk Specialties Global - AdellAdell · 3.7 mi away · NPDES WI0001236Recent violation
- Waldo Wastewater UtilityWaldo · 4.2 mi away · NPDES WI0022471Recent violation
- Wi Dnr Kettle Moraine SpringsScott Tn · 4.7 mi away · NPDES WI0026255Recent violation
- Hickory Lawn Dairy FarmCascade · 2.9 mi away · NPDES WI0064611
- Saputo Cheese Usa IncWaldo · 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.
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 6 lakes in Sheboygan County
Nearby Lakes in Sheboygan County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Ellen
What is the water quality grade for Lake Ellen?
- Lake Ellen in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). 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?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Lake Ellen has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
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.
Explore Lake Ellen across LakeGrade
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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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 Resources
WIDNR_WQX119 samples · 2020–2026
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory