Lake Emily
Portage County, Wisconsin108 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Lake Emily. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- 4 aquatic invasives
- 35 ft max depth
- Public access
Lake Emily in Portage County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 11 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 16.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 35 ft. Surface area: 108 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Lake Emily. DNR survey details →
Lake Emily is a 108-acre mesotrophic lake in Portage County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 35 feet. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 13 other monitored lakes in Portage County, Lake Emily ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-04-07. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Lake Emily is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water11 ft of visibility
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
- Fishing5 species recorded
- Deep water35 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLow 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 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.
Good clarity, visible to about 11 ft. Phosphorus 16.9 µg/L. TSI 44.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 11ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 16.9µg/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. | 44 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Lake Emily
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Lake Emily typically sits around 70°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 79°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 80°F) and coldest in Feb (about 36°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (36°F) to its warmest (80°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 48 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lake Emily water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common 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 6 years of monitoring is stable. 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. 5 stations on file (most recent sample 2026).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
Max depth
35 ft
Surface area
108 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
1,093 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Lake EmilyPublic
- Lake Emily ParkPublic
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 Portage 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 16–18, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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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: Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Stable6 years
Phosphorus
Stable-0.09 µg/L/yr6 years
Nearby Lakes in Portage County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Emily
Where is Lake Emily?
- Lake Emily is a lake in Portage 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 Portage County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 11 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 16.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 35 ft. Surface area: 108 acres.
Is Lake Emily safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Lake Emily?
- Lake Emily typically sits around 70°F at the surface in September, from 48 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 35 feet. The lake covers 108 acres.
What fish are in Lake Emily?
- Fish species found in Lake Emily include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Trout, Walleye. Lake Emily is located in Portage County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Lake Emily?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common 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 6 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
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 Emily Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Lake Emily?
- Lake Emily has 2 documented boat landings 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
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Portage 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
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State Parks Near Lake Emily
Other Lakes in Wisconsin
Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
61 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_WQX61 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
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