Lake Emily
Dodge County, Wisconsin268 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Lake Emily. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- 2 aquatic invasives
- 10 ft max depth
- Public access
Lake Emily in Dodge County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 3.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 40.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 10 ft. Surface area: 268 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Largemouth Bass as abundant on Lake Emily. DNR survey details →
Lake Emily is a 268-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Dodge County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 10 feet. Overall water quality is declining 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 2 other monitored lakes in Dodge County, Lake Emily ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-23. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Lake Emily is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing4 species recorded
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. Lake Emily is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Lake Emily 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 Lake Emily
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Lake Emily, 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 3.5 ft. Phosphorus 40.3 µg/L. TSI 58.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 3.5ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 40.3µg/L | Fair 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. | 58 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Lake Emily
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Lake Emily typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 76°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 78°F) and coldest in Aug (about 72°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (72°F) to its warmest (78°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 9 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lake Emily water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Lake Emily — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was high (235,505 cells/mL) on October 11, 2025.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Wisconsin DNR rates Largemouth Bass as abundant on Lake Emily.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Lake Emily’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is declining. 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 1994. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Lake Emily covering fish populations, stocking, water quality, and management. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- 2017Lake Emily comprehensive survey, 2017Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2017 (PDF)
Lake Details
Max depth
10 ft
Surface area
268 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
2 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
2.7 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
942 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Lake EmilyPublic
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 Emily
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Emily in Dodge 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 Emily
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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 whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Follow Lake Emily’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lake Emily
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: Worsening
Based on 7 years of monitoring (2020–2026).
Water clarity
Worsening7 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+0.88 µg/L/yr7 years
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Emily is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life, Recreation.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10025403 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
3 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Lake Emily under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Hilltop Dairy LlcMackford, Town Of · 3.2 mi away · NPDES WI0063983Recent violation
- Pride View Dairy LlcMackford, Town Of · 1.8 mi away · NPDES WI0063576
- Kooiker Calves, Inc.Fox Lake, Town Of · 1.8 mi away · NPDES WI0065005
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 Dodge County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Emily
Where is Lake Emily?
- Lake Emily is a lake in Dodge 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 Emily?
- Lake Emily in Dodge County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 3.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 40.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 10 ft. Surface area: 268 acres.
Is Lake Emily safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Lake Emily is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Lake Emily?
- Lake Emily typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August, from 9 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Lake Emily?
- Lake Emily has a maximum depth of 10 feet. The lake covers 268 acres.
What fish are in Lake Emily?
- Fish species found in Lake Emily include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Lake Emily is located in Dodge County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Lake Emily?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Largemouth Bass as abundant on Lake Emily. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Lake Emily’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Does Lake Emily have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Lake Emily (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was high (235,505 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 Emily?
- Lake Emily has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Emily. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Lake Emily?
- Lake Emily 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 Emily across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Dodge 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
More lakes in Wisconsin
Other Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
45 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_WQX45 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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
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