Lake Emily
Lake Emily in Dodge County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 40.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 10 ft. Surface area: 268 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 72°F
- Max depth
- 10 ft
- Area
- 268 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Dodge County
Lake Emily is a 268-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Dodge County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 10 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2026. 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 2 public boat landings. 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. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 3.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 40.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 58.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 40.3 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 58 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay 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
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
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.
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 ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 10 ft |
| Surface Area | 268 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Lake EmilyPublic
- Lake MariaPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded 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.
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)
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.089 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.88 µg/L/yr | 7 |
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
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 3 lakes in Dodge County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Lake Emily holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Dodge County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Emily
What is the water quality grade for Lake Emily?
- Lake Emily in Dodge County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). 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?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Lake Emily has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
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.
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 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Emily, Lake Maria. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Lake Emily across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded 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 grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Wisconsin's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade C 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)
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
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