Lake Wawasee is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Kosciusko County, Indiana. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2021. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 7 documented fish species including Bluegill, Catfish, and Crappie. Public access is available. Compared to the 18 other monitored lakes in Kosciusko County, Lake Wawasee ranks #10 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Indiana DNR, last sampled 2021-08-10. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Murky, only visible to about 5.9 ft. Trophic State Index: 52.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.9 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 52 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Lake Wawasee
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Wawasee in Kosciusko County, Indiana — 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 Wawasee
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lake Wawasee
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.62 m/yr | 2 |
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Lake Wawasee, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 75 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Indiana DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #10 of 19 lakes in Kosciusko County
Nearby Lakes in Kosciusko County
Explore Lake Wawasee across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Indiana
Fish species and best lakes in Kosciusko County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Indiana's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Indiana Lake Rankings
Other Grade D Lakes in Indiana
Eutrophic Lakes in Indiana
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Wawasee 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 INJ01P1023_00 · Official waterbody report
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
6 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Lake Wawasee under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Turkey Creek Regional Sewer DistrictCromwell · 2.9 mi away · NPDES IN0045802Recent violation
- Wawasee PlazaSyracuse · 1.2 mi away · NPDES IN0045225
- Blue Heron Storage CondominiumsSyracuse · 1.4 mi away · NPDES INR10K960
- Wawasee Circuit 12 441 6989 Rebuild ProjectSyracuse · 1.5 mi away · NPDES INRA02749
- Dollar GeneralSyracuse · 1.5 mi away · NPDES INRA03211
- Lake Dalecarlia Regional WasteLowell · 2.9 mi away · NPDES IN0046647
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.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2021-08-10
Monitoring stations: 1