Lake Sherwood
Lake Sherwood in Adams County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 5.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 22.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 27 ft. Surface area: 216 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Lake Sherwood. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 5.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 77°F
- Max depth
- 27 ft
- Area
- 216 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Lake Sherwood is a 216-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Adams County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 27 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 4 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 17 other monitored lakes in Adams County, Lake Sherwood ranks #8 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-22. 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)
Murky, only visible to about 5.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 22.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 51.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 22.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 51 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Lake Sherwood
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Sherwood in Adams 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 Sherwood
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Lake Sherwood typically sits around 77°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 76°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 78°F) and coldest in Apr (about 52°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 20 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lake Sherwood water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Lake Sherwood.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Lake Sherwood B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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 2003. 17 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 Sherwood covering fish populations, stocking, water quality, and management. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- 2021Lake Sherwood late spring shocking survey, 2021Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2021 (PDF)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 27 ft |
| Surface Area | 216 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Lake SherwoodPublic
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 Sherwood
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 data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.125 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.95 µg/L/yr | 7 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Sherwood is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Sherwood (completed 1968), built primarily for recreation on the FOURTEEN MILE CREEK; earth-type dam, 36 ft tall and 920 ft long.
- Surface area
- 246 ac
- Normal storage
- 2,516 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 13,800 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 91.1 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Adams County
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI00001 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Sherwood 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 WI10026706 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #8 of 18 lakes in Adams County
Nearby Lakes in Adams County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Sherwood
Where is Lake Sherwood?
- Lake Sherwood is a lake in Adams 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 Sherwood?
- Lake Sherwood in Adams County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 5.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 22.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 27 ft. Surface area: 216 acres.
Is Lake Sherwood safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Lake Sherwood has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Lake Sherwood?
- Lake Sherwood typically sits around 77°F at the surface in August, from 20 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Lake Sherwood?
- Lake Sherwood has a maximum depth of 27 feet. The lake covers 216 acres.
What fish are in Lake Sherwood?
- Fish species found in Lake Sherwood include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Lake Sherwood is located in Adams County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Lake Sherwood?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Lake Sherwood. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Lake Sherwood B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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.
Are there boat ramps on Lake Sherwood?
- Lake Sherwood has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Sherwood. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Lake Sherwood across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Adams County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Wisconsin River Watershed, ranked by water quality
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Wisconsin's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Lake Sherwood
Other Grade B Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
100 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX100 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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