Lake Metonga
Lake Metonga in Forest County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 22 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 79 ft. Surface area: 2038 acres.
- Clarity
- 22 ft
- Typical in August
- 72°F
- Max depth
- 79 ft
- Area
- 2,038 acres
- Type
- Oligotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Forest County
Lake Metonga is a 2,038-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Forest County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 79 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2026. 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 4 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. Grade methodology: LakeGrade 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)
Crystal clear, you can see 22 ft down. Phosphorus level: 13.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 37.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 22 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 13.7 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 37 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay 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
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Planning a trip? Cabins and lodging at Lake Metonga → · more Wisconsin lake trips
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.
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 ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 79 ft |
| Surface Area | 2,038 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Metonga Lake - NorthPublic
- Metonga Lake - EastPublic
- Metonga Lake - SouthPublic
- Peshtigo LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded 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.
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)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1.089 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.51 µg/L/yr | 7 |
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #9 of 23 lakes in Forest County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Lake Metonga holds Grade B. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Forest County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Metonga
What is the water quality grade for Lake Metonga?
- Lake Metonga in Forest County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). 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?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Lake Metonga has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
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.
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 4 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Metonga Lake - North, Metonga Lake - East, Metonga Lake - South, Peshtigo Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Lake Metonga across LakeGrade
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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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)
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
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