Lake Nebagamon
Douglas County, Wisconsin986 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Lake Nebagamon. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- 2 aquatic invasives
- 56 ft max depth
- Public access
Lake Nebagamon in Douglas County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 56 ft. Surface area: 986 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Smallmouth Bass and Northern Pike as abundant on Lake Nebagamon. DNR survey details →
Lake Nebagamon is a 986-acre mesotrophic lake in Douglas County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 56 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 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 14 other monitored lakes in Douglas County, Lake Nebagamon ranks #7 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-05-03. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Lake Nebagamon covers about 990 acres in Douglas County. It has one public boat landing. For a place on the water, look through cabin and lake-house rentals near Lake Nebagamon on Vrbo. For a hotel or motel room, Booking.com and Expedia both search around the lake.
What Lake Nebagamon is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing5 species recorded
- Deep water56 ft surveyed max depth
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. Lake Nebagamon is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Lake Nebagamon 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 Nebagamon
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Lake Nebagamon, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7 ft. Phosphorus 17.9 µg/L. TSI 47.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 7ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 17.9µg/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. | 47 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Lake Nebagamon
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Lake Nebagamon typically sits around 63°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 78°F) and coldest in Oct (about 63°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (63°F) to its warmest (78°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 21 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lake Nebagamon water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR rates Smallmouth Bass and Northern Pike as abundant on Lake Nebagamon.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Lake Nebagamon’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 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 1986. 5 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Lake Nebagamon covering fish populations, stocking, water quality, and management. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- 2014Nebagamon Lake comprehensive fisheries survey, 2014Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2014 (PDF)
- —Lake Nebagamon fishery survey, 2022-2023Fisheries Survey · WI DNR (PDF)
Lake Details
Max depth
56 ft
Surface area
986 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
39 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
10.8 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,106 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Lake NebagamonPublic
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 Nebagamon
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Nebagamon in Douglas 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 Nebagamon
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 whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Follow Lake Nebagamon’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lake Nebagamon
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 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Stable6 years
Phosphorus
Improving-0.95 µg/L/yr6 years
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Nebagamon is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10010781 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Douglas County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Nebagamon
Where is Lake Nebagamon?
- Lake Nebagamon is a lake in Douglas 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 Nebagamon?
- Lake Nebagamon in Douglas County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 56 ft. Surface area: 986 acres.
Is Lake Nebagamon safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Lake Nebagamon is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Lake Nebagamon?
- Lake Nebagamon typically sits around 63°F at the surface in October, from 21 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Lake Nebagamon?
- Lake Nebagamon has a maximum depth of 56 feet. The lake covers 986 acres.
What fish are in Lake Nebagamon?
- Fish species found in Lake Nebagamon include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Lake Nebagamon is located in Douglas County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Lake Nebagamon?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Smallmouth Bass and Northern Pike as abundant on Lake Nebagamon. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Lake Nebagamon’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Lake Nebagamon?
- Lake Nebagamon has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Nebagamon. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Lake Nebagamon?
- Lake Nebagamon has 1 documented boat landing 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 Nebagamon across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
2 documented falls within 11.5 mi, nearest Amnicon Falls (Upper Falls)
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
76 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_WQX76 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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
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