Skip to main content
LakeQuality

Lake Menomin

D
Grade D — Nutrient-rich
Nutrient-rich · #2 of 3 lakes in the county · 3.1 ft clear · Eutrophic · 1,009 acres
Limited DataEutrophic

Lake Menomin in Dunn County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 89.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 34 ft. Surface area: 1009 acres.

Clarity
3.1 ft
Typical in July
72°F
Max depth
34 ft
Area
1,009 acres
Type
Eutrophic
Trend
Declining
Public access
Yes

Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Lake Menomin

Next lake in Dunn County

DTainter Lake3.7 ft clear · Dunn CountyView →
Loading map…

Lake Menomin is a 1,009-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Dunn County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 34 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Smallmouth Bass. Public access is available with 5 public boat landings. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Dunn County, Lake Menomin ranks #2 for water quality.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-16. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

Watch Lake Menomin water quality

Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

Swimming Safety

Grade only

Limited data

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.

Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum

Compare the safest swimming lakes near Eau Claire

Get alerts for Lake Menomin

Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)

Very murky, less than 3.1 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 89.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 65.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)3.1 ftNot graded
Phosphorus89.7 µg/LPoor
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)No recent samples
Trophic State Index (TSI)65Eutrophic

High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity

Where to stay near Lake Menomin

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Menomin in Dunn 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Lake Menomin are listed below.

Top-rated places to stay near Lake Menomin

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 trip? Cabins and lodging at Lake Menomin · more Wisconsin lake trips

Water Temperature

Lake Menomin typically sits around 72°F at the surface in July. Summer average is about 72°F. Usually warmest in Jun (about 72°F) and coldest in Mar (about 44°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.

Jan
Feb
Mar
44°
Apr
50°
May
63°
Jun
72°
Jul
72°
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec

Typical surface water temperature by month, from 34 field readings (20242026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lake Menomin water temperature breakdown →

Lake Details

CharacteristicValue
Maximum Depth34 ft
Surface Area1,009 acres
Public AccessYes

Lake Size & Watershed

Watershed (drainage) area
1,707 sq mi
Shoreline
8.1 mi
Elevation
804 ft

Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).

Recreation & Access

5
Boat Landings
Yes
Public Access
  • Wakanda ParkPublic
  • Point Comfort ParkPublic
  • Lakeside ParkPublic
  • La Pointe ParkPublic
  • Highway 29 BridgePublic

Fish Species

Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.

Fishing Lake Menomin

Invasive & Introduced Species

Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.

Banded Mystery SnailChinese Mystery SnailCurly-Leaf PondweedZebra Mussel

WI DNR Lake Profile

Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 1990. 10 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).

Fish Species (DNR-rated)

Panfish(Common)Largemouth Bass(Common)Northern Pike(Common)Walleye(Common)Smallmouth Bass(Present)

DNR Reports & Resources

Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Lake Menomin 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).

Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).

MetricTrendChange/YearYears
Water Clarity Declining-0.125 m/yr3
Phosphorus Declining+3.8 µg/L/yr3

Reservoir Info (USACE NID)

Lake Menomin is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Menomonie (completed 1957), built primarily for hydroelectric on the Red Cedar; gravity-type dam, 37 ft tall and 642 ft long.

Surface area
1,405 ac
Normal storage
15,000 ac-ft
Max storage
15,000 ac-ft
Drainage area
1,795 sq mi
Hazard class
High
Owner
Northern States Power Co

All listed purposes: Hydroelectric;Recreation.

Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI00735 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.75 km)

EPA Impairment Status

Lake Menomin is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).

Causes of impairment

Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)

A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.

Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10008154 · Official waterbody report

Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby

1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Lake Menomin under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.

  • Menomonie Wastewater Treatment Facility
    Menomonie · 1.5 mi away · NPDES WI0024708
    MajorRecent violation

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 #2 of 3 lakes in Dunn County

Nearby Lakes in Dunn County

Frequently asked questions about Lake Menomin

What is the water quality grade for Lake Menomin?

Lake Menomin in Dunn County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 89.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 34 ft. Surface area: 1009 acres.

Is Lake Menomin safe to swim in?

Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Lake Menomin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.

What is the water temperature of Lake Menomin?

Lake Menomin typically sits around 72°F at the surface in July, from 34 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.

How deep is Lake Menomin?

Lake Menomin has a maximum depth of 34 feet. The lake covers 1009 acres.

What fish are in Lake Menomin?

Fish species found in Lake Menomin include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Lake Menomin is located in Dunn County, Wisconsin.

Are there boat ramps on Lake Menomin?

Lake Menomin has 5 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Wakanda Park, Point Comfort Park, Lakeside Park, La Pointe Park, among others. Public access is listed as yes.

Where this data comes from

29 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.

Collected and reported by

  • Wisconsin Department of Natural ResourcesWIDNR_WQX29 samples · 2022–2026

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