Lake Ellen

On the LakeGrade rubric, Lake Ellen pulls an A: clarity at 29.5 ft and 12 µg/L of phosphorus put it in the top bracket for Wisconsin. The three sub-grades — clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a — track close together, so no single parameter is dragging the average.

The lake's low TSI puts it in oligotrophic territory — the cleanest of the four trophic classes, but also the most vulnerable to nutrient-driven shifts. The lake bottoms out at 42 ft — a moderate depth that supports a warm-water fishery without the year-round cold refuge a deeper basin provides. At 112 acres, Lake Ellen fits the Wisconsin median for monitored lakes, with partial shoreline records. Among the 6 graded lakes in Sheboygan County, Lake Ellen sits at rank 2, above the county median.

Zebra mussels have been documented at Lake Ellen, which alters the filter-feeding balance and can paradoxically increase water clarity while disrupting the food web. The fishery includes walleye alongside the lake's other 4 documented species — a notable draw for Wisconsin anglers. Public access is available — the lake is on the Wisconsin DNR public-access list. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.