Laurel Lake
Laurel Lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 25.1 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 3.7 ft
- Typical in July
- 63°F
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Laurel Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 66 other monitored lakes in Oneida County, Laurel Lake ranks #60 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2023-09-22. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 3.7 ft. Phosphorus level: 25.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 54.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 25.1 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 54 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Laurel Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Laurel Lake in Oneida 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 Laurel Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Laurel Lake typically sits around 63°F at the surface in July. Summer average is about 63°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 63°F) and coldest in Mar (about 37°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 11 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Laurel Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Laurel Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was high (586,138 cells/mL) on May 18, 2024.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Recreation & Access
- Laurel LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Public campgrounds near Laurel Lake
- Laurel Lake1.0 km
Nearest public campgrounds in the USGS National Map inventory, within about 3 miles. An empty list means USGS records no campground that close, which is not the same as camping being unavailable. Where the source gives an official reservation link, it is used; the cabin and hotel search does not cover campsites. More camping lakes
Fishing Laurel Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.547 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -5.13 µg/L/yr | 4 |
EPA Impairment Status
Laurel Lake 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 WI10007332 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #60 of 67 lakes in Oneida County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Laurel Lake holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Oneida County
Frequently asked questions about Laurel Lake
Where is Laurel Lake?
- Laurel Lake is a lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Laurel Lake?
- Laurel Lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 25.1 µg/L.
Is Laurel Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Laurel Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Laurel Lake?
- Laurel Lake typically sits around 63°F at the surface in July, from 11 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Does Laurel Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Laurel Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was high (586,138 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Wisconsin's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Laurel Lake?
- Laurel Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Laurel Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Are there campgrounds on Laurel Lake?
- Laurel Lake has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Laurel Lake. This is a location join, not a booking. Cabins and hotels are listed separately; campsite reservations use the official link when the source provides one.
Explore Laurel Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
59 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX59 samples · 2020–2023
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles