Lake Metonga
Forest County, Wisconsin2,038 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Lake Metonga. Here is what has been measured.
- Oligotrophic
- 2 aquatic invasives
- 79 ft max depth
- Public access
Lake Metonga in Forest County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 22 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 79 ft. Surface area: 2038 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Smallmouth Bass as common on Lake Metonga. DNR survey details →
Lake Metonga is a 2,038-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Forest County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 79 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Smallmouth Bass. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 22 other monitored lakes in Forest County, Lake Metonga ranks #9 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-07-11. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Lake Metonga covers about 2,000 acres in Forest County. It has 3 public boat landings, so a lakefront rental is not the only way to get a boat on the water. For a place on the water, look through cabin and lake-house rentals near Lake Metonga on Vrbo. For a hotel or motel room, Booking.com and Expedia both search around the lake.
What Lake Metonga is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water22 ft of visibility
- Boat launch3 documented ramps
- Fishing5 species recorded
- Deep water79 ft surveyed max depth
- Big water2,038 acres
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 Metonga 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 Metonga
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Lake Metonga, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Crystal clear, you can see 22 ft down. Phosphorus 13.7 µg/L. TSI 37.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 22ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 13.7µg/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. | 37 | Oligotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. No reading is a swimming clearance.
Ask about Lake Metonga
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Lake Metonga typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 72°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 74°F) and coldest in Apr (about 43°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (43°F) to its warmest (74°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 10 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lake Metonga water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Lake Metonga — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was moderate (46,132 cells/mL) on May 21, 2026.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Wisconsin DNR lists Smallmouth Bass as common on Lake Metonga.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Lake Metonga’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is improving. 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 1992. 9 stations on file (most recent sample 2026).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
Max depth
79 ft
Surface area
2,038 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
11 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
7.7 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,591 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Metonga Lake - NorthPublic
- Metonga Lake - EastPublic
- Metonga Lake - SouthPublic
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 Metonga
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Metonga in Forest 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 Metonga
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 trip? Cabins and lodging at Lake Metonga → · more Wisconsin lake trips
Follow Lake Metonga’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lake Metonga
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: Improving
Based on 7 years of monitoring (2020–2026).
Water clarity
Improving7 years
Phosphorus
Improving-0.51 µg/L/yr7 years
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Lake Metonga under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Crandon City OfCrandon · 2.1 mi away · NPDES WI0036277Recent 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.
Nearby Lakes in Forest County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Metonga
Where is Lake Metonga?
- Lake Metonga is a lake in Forest 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 Metonga?
- Lake Metonga in Forest County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 22 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 79 ft. Surface area: 2038 acres.
Is Lake Metonga 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 Metonga?
- Lake Metonga typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August, from 10 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Lake Metonga?
- Lake Metonga has a maximum depth of 79 feet. The lake covers 2038 acres.
What fish are in Lake Metonga?
- Fish species found in Lake Metonga include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Lake Metonga is located in Forest County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Lake Metonga?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Smallmouth Bass as common on Lake Metonga. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Lake Metonga’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Does Lake Metonga have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Lake Metonga (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was moderate (46,132 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 Metonga?
- Lake Metonga has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Metonga Lake - North, Metonga Lake - East, Metonga Lake - South. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Lake Metonga?
- Lake Metonga has 3 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 Metonga 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 Forest County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its readings
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Wisconsin's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Compare Lake Metonga With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
85 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_WQX85 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
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