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Lake Morris

Waushara County, WisconsinOligotrophic

Lake Morris sits at the top of the Wisconsin DNR grading rubric with an A, a mark reached by the cleanest lakes in Wisconsin. Sub-grades cluster within a single letter of each other, which usually means the lake is in stable trophic balance rather than fighting one specific stressor.

A TSI value of 36 puts Lake Morris in the oligotrophic range, where biological productivity stays low and the water column remains clear. A maximum depth of 40 ft puts Lake Morris in the middle of Wisconsin's depth distribution. At 117 acres, Lake Morris fits the Wisconsin median for monitored lakes, with partial shoreline records. Lake Morris ranks 13 of 30 in Waushara County — solidly in the upper half of the local distribution.

Lake Morris is on the Wisconsin infested-waters list for zebra mussels — boaters should follow clean-drain-dry protocols when moving gear to or from the lake. Bass fishing is part of the appeal: the species list runs to 3, anchored by largemouth and/or smallmouth bass. A documented public access point at Lake Morris makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-07-07. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

Swimming Safety

Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae

Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent

Crystal clear, you can see 36.1 ft down. Phosphorus level: 18.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 36.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)36.1 ftA
Phosphorus18.1 µg/LA
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)No data
Trophic State Index (TSI)36Oligotrophic

Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming

Lake Details

CharacteristicValue
Maximum Depth40 ft
Surface Area117 acres
Public AccessYes

Fish Species

Click a species to see all Wisconsin and Minnesota lakes where it is found.

→ Best fishing times for Lake Morris (14-day solunar calendar)

→ Is it safe to eat fish from Lake Morris? (mercury & PFAS guide)

Lake Morris fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)

Invasive Species

Banded Mystery SnailCurly-Leaf PondweedEurasian Water-MilfoilHybrid Eurasian / Northern Water-MilfoilZebra Mussel

Water Quality Trend: Declining

Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).

MetricTrendChange/YearYears
Water Clarity Declining-0.589 m/yr7
Phosphorus Declining+0.44 µg/L/yr6
See year-by-year chart →

Recreation & Access

2
Boat Landings
Yes
Public Access

Location

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County Ranking

Ranked #13 of 30 lakes in Waushara County

Nearby Lakes in Waushara County

WI DNR Lake Profile

Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 1986. 15 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).

DNR Assessment
Excellent · Deep Lowland lake
Trophic State Index 46 (mesotrophic) · 5-year average

Fish Species (DNR-rated)

Panfish(Abundant)Largemouth Bass(Common)Northern Pike(Common)

Data Sources

Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal

Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards

Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes

Most recent sample: 2025-07-07

Monitoring stations: 5