Lake Wingra
Dane County, Wisconsin336 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Lake Wingra. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · PCBs
- 3 aquatic invasives
- 14 ft max depth
- Public access
Lake Wingra in Dane County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 33.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 14 ft. Surface area: 336 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Lake Wingra. DNR survey details →
Lake Wingra is a 336-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Dane County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 14 feet. 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Lake Wingra covers about 340 acres in Dane County. If you are planning to stay, you can search lake houses and cabins around Lake Wingra on Vrbo, or look for a hotel room near the lake on Booking.com or Expedia.
What Lake Wingra is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Fishing5 species recorded
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 Wingra is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Lake Wingra 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 Wingra
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Lake Wingra, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Murky, only visible to about 4 ft. Phosphorus 33.8 µg/L. TSI 56.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 4ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 33.8µg/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. | 56 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Lake Wingra
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Lake Wingra typically sits around 71°F at the surface in September. 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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (51°F) to its warmest (78°F).
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 →
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Lake Wingra.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Lake Wingra’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. 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. 12 stations on file (most recent sample 2026).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
Max depth
14 ft
Surface area
336 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
9 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
3.6 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
843 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Stays via Stay22
Stays 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
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 →
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every 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.
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2021–2026).
Water clarity
Stable6 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+4.52 µg/L/yr5 years
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
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10001457 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Dane County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Wingra
Where is Lake Wingra?
- Lake Wingra is a lake in Dane 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 Wingra?
- Lake Wingra in Dane County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. 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?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Lake Wingra is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for pCBs. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Lake Wingra?
- Lake Wingra typically sits around 71°F at the surface in September, 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.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Lake Wingra?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Lake Wingra. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Lake Wingra’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Can I fish at Lake Wingra?
- Public access to Lake Wingra is listed as yes on the lake record. 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 Wingra across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Dane County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Madison Area Lakes area
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Wisconsin River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Wisconsin's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Wisconsin
State Parks Near Lake Wingra
Other Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
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)
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