Lake Emily
Lake Emily in Portage County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). 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 →
- Clarity
- 11 ft
- Typical in August
- 79°F
- Max depth
- 35 ft
- Area
- 108 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
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Lake Emily is a 108-acre mesotrophic lake in Portage County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 35 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2026. 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. Grade methodology: LakeQuality 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)
Good clarity, visible to about 11 ft. Phosphorus level: 16.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 44.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 16.9 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 44 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay 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
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Lake Emily typically sits around 79°F at the surface in August. 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.
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 a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Lake Emily B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 35 ft |
| Surface Area | 108 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
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
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.
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.063 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.09 µg/L/yr | 6 |
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 14 lakes in Portage County
Nearby Lakes in Portage County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Emily
Where is Lake Emily?
- Lake Emily is a lake in Portage County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Lake Emily?
- Lake Emily in Portage County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). 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?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Lake Emily has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Lake Emily?
- Lake Emily typically sits around 79°F at the surface in August, 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 a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Lake Emily B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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.
Explore Lake Emily across LakeQuality
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Fish species and best lakes in Portage County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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State Parks Near Lake Emily
Other Grade B 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)
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
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