Lake Nebagamon
Lake Nebagamon in Douglas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). 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 →
- Clarity
- 7 ft
- Typical in August
- 72°F
- Max depth
- 56 ft
- Area
- 986 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Lake Nebagamon is a 986-acre mesotrophic lake in Douglas County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 56 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 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. Grade methodology: LakeQuality 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)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7 ft. Phosphorus level: 17.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 47.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 17.9 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay 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
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Lake Nebagamon typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August. 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.
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 a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Lake Nebagamon B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 56 ft |
| Surface Area | 986 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
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
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded 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 data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.071 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.95 µg/L/yr | 6 |
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
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10010781 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #7 of 15 lakes in Douglas County
Nearby Lakes in Douglas County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Nebagamon
Where is Lake Nebagamon?
- Lake Nebagamon is a lake in Douglas County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Lake Nebagamon?
- Lake Nebagamon in Douglas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). 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?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Lake Nebagamon has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Lake Nebagamon?
- Lake Nebagamon typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August, 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 a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Lake Nebagamon B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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.
Explore Lake Nebagamon across LakeQuality
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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)
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
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