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F

Lake Winneconne

Winnebago County, WisconsinLimited DataEutrophic

Lake Winneconne earns an F: phosphorus readings still being added and clarity at 2.4 ft signal heavy nutrient loading from the surrounding watershed. Clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.

Eutrophic conditions are the baseline here: clarity drops noticeably in late summer, and dissolved oxygen near the bottom can become a concern. At only 9 ft deep, Lake Winneconne is shallow — wind keeps the water column mixed and sediment resuspension drives phosphorus levels harder to manage. Lake Winneconne covers 4,553 acres alongside partial shoreline records, large enough that conditions can vary meaningfully between bays. Lake Winneconne ranks 2 of 5 in Winnebago County — solidly in the upper half of the local distribution.

Zebra mussel presence at Lake Winneconne means the lake's clarity numbers carry an asterisk — filtered water is not the same as nutrient-poor water. Walleye are documented at Lake Winneconne, one of 8 fish species on record for the lake. A documented public access point at Lake Winneconne makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-05-27. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

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Swimming Safety

Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins

Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor

Very murky, less than 2.4 ft of visibility. Trophic State Index: 65.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)2.4 ftF
PhosphorusNo data
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)No data
Trophic State Index (TSI)65Eutrophic

High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity

Lake Details

CharacteristicValue
Maximum Depth9 ft
Surface Area4,553 acres
Public AccessYes

Fish Species

Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.

→ Best fishing times for Lake Winneconne (14-day solunar calendar)

→ Is it safe to eat fish from Lake Winneconne? (mercury & PFAS guide)

Lake Winneconne fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)

Invasive & Introduced Species

Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.

Curly-Leaf PondweedEurasian Water-MilfoilPurple LoosestrifeRusty CrayfishZebra MusselFaucet SnailFlowering Rush

Water Quality Trend: Stable

Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).

MetricTrendChange/YearYears
Water Clarity Stable+0.033 m/yr6
See year-by-year chart →

Recreation & Access

2
Boat Landings
Yes
Public Access

Location

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County Ranking

Ranked #2 of 5 lakes in Winnebago County

Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles

Lake Winneconne holds Grade F. 4 nearby lakes hold higher grades.

Nearby Lakes in Winnebago County

State Parks Near Lake Winneconne

WI DNR Lake Profile

Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. 16 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).

DNR Assessment
Good · Shallow Lowland lake
Trophic State Index 58 (eutrophic) · 5-year average

Fish Species (DNR-rated)

Panfish(Abundant)Northern Pike(Abundant)Sturgeon(Abundant)Catfish(Abundant)Largemouth Bass(Common)Walleye(Common)Musky(Present)Smallmouth Bass(Present)

EPA Impairment Status

Lake Winneconne is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).

Causes of impairment

Cause unknownNutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)Turbidity

A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.

Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10000776 · Official waterbody report

Data Sources

Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal

Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database

Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards

Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes

Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory

Most recent sample: 2026-05-27

Monitoring stations: 2

Where to stay near Lake Winneconne

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Winneconne in Winnebago County, Wisconsin — live availability and prices for your trip.

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