Lake
Columbia County, Wisconsin7,197 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- 4 aquatic invasives
- 24 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Lake in Columbia County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 92.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 24 ft. Surface area: 7197 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Lake. DNR survey details →
Lake is a 7,197-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Columbia County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 24 feet. The lake supports 7 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Smallmouth Bass. Public access is available with 6 public boat landings. Compared to the 5 other monitored lakes in Columbia County, Lake ranks #3 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-19. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch6 documented ramps
- Fishing7 species recorded
- Big water7,197 acres
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
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. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Lake 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
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Very murky, less than 2.5 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 92.9 µg/L. TSI 67.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 2.5ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 92.9µg/L | Poor 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. | 67 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was high (839,460 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 ↗
Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is stable. 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 1993. 44 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
Max depth
24 ft
Surface area
7,197 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Recreation & Access
- West Harmony DrivePublic
- Bay DrivePublic
- Red Cedar DrivePublic
- Old Sauk RoadPublic
- Eagle DrivePublic
- Linda CirclePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake 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. The water-quality readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Lake
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 trip? Cabins and lodging at Lake → · more Wisconsin lake trips
Follow Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lake
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: Stable
Based on 7 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Stable6 years
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Lodi Canning CoLodi · 4.9 mi away · NPDES WI0002658Recent violation
- Lodi Wastewater Treatment FacilityLodi · 4.9 mi away · NPDES WI0022918Recent violation
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.
Nearby Lakes in Columbia County
Frequently asked questions about Lake
Where is Lake?
- Lake is a lake in Columbia 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?
- Lake in Columbia County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 92.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 24 ft. Surface area: 7197 acres.
Is Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Lake?
- Lake has a maximum depth of 24 feet. The lake covers 7197 acres.
What fish are in Lake?
- Fish species found in Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Trout, Walleye, Catfish. Lake is located in Columbia County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Does Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was high (839,460 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?
- Lake has 6 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include West Harmony Drive, Bay Drive, Red Cedar Drive, Old Sauk Road, among others. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Lake?
- Lake has 6 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. 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 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 Columbia 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
Other Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
217 measurements from 9 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_WQX217 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (9)
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory