Lake Wingra
Lake Wingra in Dane County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 33.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 14 ft. Surface area: 336 acres.
- Clarity
- 4 ft
- Typical in August
- 76°F
- Max depth
- 14 ft
- Area
- 336 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Dane County
Lake Wingra is a 336-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Dane County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 14 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available. Compared to the 14 other monitored lakes in Dane County, Lake Wingra ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-23. Grade methodology: LakeGrade 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 4 ft. Phosphorus level: 33.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 56.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 33.8 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 56 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Lake Wingra
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Wingra in Dane 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 Wingra
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Water Temperature
Lake Wingra typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 76°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 78°F) and coldest in Jan (about 51°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 115 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lake Wingra water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 14 ft |
| Surface Area | 336 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lake Wingra
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Source: USGS Nonindigenous Aquatic Species (NAS) Database. Hover a chip to see scientific name, ecological context, status, and first-observed year.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 1986. 12 stations on file (most recent sample 2026).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.039 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +4.52 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Wingra is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Lake Wingra (completed 1930), built primarily for recreation on the MURPHY'S CREEK; gravity-type dam, 8 ft tall and 25 ft long.
- Surface area
- 345 ac
- Normal storage
- 1,600 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 2,600 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 6 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- City of Madison
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI01067 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Wingra 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 WI10001457 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 15 lakes in Dane County
Nearby Lakes in Dane County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Wingra
What is the water quality grade for Lake Wingra?
- Lake Wingra in Dane County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 33.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 14 ft. Surface area: 336 acres.
Is Lake Wingra safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Lake Wingra has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Lake Wingra?
- Lake Wingra typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August, from 115 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Lake Wingra?
- Lake Wingra has a maximum depth of 14 feet. The lake covers 336 acres.
What fish are in Lake Wingra?
- Fish species found in Lake Wingra include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Lake Wingra is located in Dane County, Wisconsin.
Explore Lake Wingra across LakeGrade
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
242 measurements from 3 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_WQX242 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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