Lake Wisconsin Whalen'S Grade
Lake Wisconsin Whalen'S Grade in Columbia County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 24 ft. Surface area: 7197 acres.
- Clarity
- 2 ft
- Max depth
- 24 ft
- Area
- 7,197 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Columbia County
Why Lake Wisconsin Whalen'S Grade has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Lake Wisconsin Whalen'S Grade, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by WI DNR and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Lake Wisconsin Whalen'S Grade is a 7,197-acre lake in Columbia County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 24 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 7 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Smallmouth Bass. Public access is available with 6 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2024-04-24. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Lake Wisconsin Whalen'S Grade
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Very murky, less than 2 ft of visibility. Trophic State Index: 67.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 67 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Lake Wisconsin Whalen'S Grade
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Wisconsin Whalen'S Grade in Columbia 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 Wisconsin Whalen'S Grade
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Planning a trip? Cabins and lodging at Lake Wisconsin Whalen'S Grade → · more Wisconsin lake trips
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Lake Wisconsin Whalen'S Grade — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was high (672,977 cells/mL) on July 18, 2026.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 24 ft |
| Surface Area | 7,197 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Corning StreetPublic
- Camp Rest ParkPublic
- Whalen GradePublic
- Nome StreetPublic
- Saddle RoadPublic
- Copse RoadPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lake Wisconsin Whalen'S Grade
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 1993. 44 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 Wisconsin Whalen'S Grade covering fish populations, stocking, water quality, and management. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- 2017Lake Wisconsin comprehensive survey 2017Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2017 (PDF)
- 2012Lake Wisconsin comprehensive survey 2012Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2012 (PDF)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.5 m/yr | 3 |
Graded lakes near Lake Wisconsin Whalen'S Grade
Lake Wisconsin Whalen'S Grade has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Columbia County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Wisconsin Whalen'S Grade
What is the water quality grade for Lake Wisconsin Whalen'S Grade?
- Lake Wisconsin Whalen'S Grade in Columbia County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 24 ft. Surface area: 7197 acres.
Is Lake Wisconsin Whalen'S Grade safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Lake Wisconsin Whalen'S Grade is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Lake Wisconsin Whalen'S Grade?
- Lake Wisconsin Whalen'S Grade has a maximum depth of 24 feet. The lake covers 7197 acres.
What fish are in Lake Wisconsin Whalen'S Grade?
- Fish species found in Lake Wisconsin Whalen'S Grade include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Trout, Walleye, Catfish. Lake Wisconsin Whalen'S Grade is located in Columbia County, Wisconsin.
Does Lake Wisconsin Whalen'S Grade have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Lake Wisconsin Whalen'S Grade (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was high (672,977 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Wisconsin's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Lake Wisconsin Whalen'S Grade?
- Lake Wisconsin Whalen'S Grade has 6 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Corning Street, Camp Rest Park, Whalen Grade, Nome Street, among others. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Lake Wisconsin Whalen'S Grade across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Where this data comes from
8 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX8 samples · 2020–2024
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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
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