Lazy Lake
Lazy Lake in Columbia County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 269 µg/L. Maximum depth: 8 ft. Surface area: 161 acres.
- Clarity
- 4 ft
- Max depth
- 8 ft
- Area
- 161 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Lazy Lake →
Next lake in Columbia County
Lazy Lake is a 161-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Columbia County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 8 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 5 other monitored lakes in Columbia County, Lazy Lake ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2023-09-09. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyElevated nutrients
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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Murky, only visible to about 4 ft. Phosphorus level: 269 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 71.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 269 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 71 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Lazy Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lazy 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 grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Lazy Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Lazy Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 8 ft |
| Surface Area | 161 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Brayton BoulevardPublic
- Lazy Point RoadPublic
- Sleepy Hollow RoadPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lazy 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.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. 2 stations on file (most recent sample 2023).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Lazy Lake covering fish populations, stocking, water quality, and management. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- 2024Lazy Lake comprehensive fisheries survey, 2024Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2024 (PDF)
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.125 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +83.75 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lazy Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Fall River (completed 1859), built primarily for recreation on the North Branch Crawfish River; gravity-type dam, 17 ft tall and 300 ft long.
- Surface area
- 161 ac
- Normal storage
- 578 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 900 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 76 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- Village of Fall River
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI00115 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Lazy 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 WI10010053 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.52 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Lazy Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Fall River WwtfFall River · 1.4 mi away · NPDES WI0023973
- Wi Academy Wastewater Treatment FacilityColumbus · 3.3 mi away · NPDES WI0029611
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 6 lakes in Columbia County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Lazy Lake holds Grade D. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Columbia County
Frequently asked questions about Lazy Lake
What is the water quality grade for Lazy Lake?
- Lazy Lake in Columbia County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 269 µg/L. Maximum depth: 8 ft. Surface area: 161 acres.
Is Lazy Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Lazy Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Lazy Lake?
- Lazy Lake has a maximum depth of 8 feet. The lake covers 161 acres.
What fish are in Lazy Lake?
- Fish species found in Lazy Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Lazy Lake is located in Columbia County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Lazy Lake?
- Lazy Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Brayton Boulevard, Lazy Point Road, Sleepy Hollow Road. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Lazy Lake across LakeGrade
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Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
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Where this data comes from
35 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX35 samples · 2021–2023
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
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