Where is Little Elkhart Lake?

Little Elkhart Lake is a lake in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.

What is the water temperature of Little Elkhart Lake?

Little Elkhart Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August, from 9 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.

How deep is Little Elkhart Lake?

Little Elkhart Lake has a maximum depth of 25 feet. The lake covers 52 acres.

What fish are in Little Elkhart Lake?

Fish species found in Little Elkhart Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Little Elkhart Lake is located in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin.

Are there boat ramps on Little Elkhart Lake?

Little Elkhart Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Little Elkhart Lake. Public access is listed as yes.

Can I fish at Little Elkhart Lake?

Little Elkhart Lake has 1 documented boat landing 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.

Little Elkhart Lake

Sheboygan County, Wisconsin52 acresView map Directions

Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Little Elkhart Lake. Here is what has been measured.

Clarity

10 ft

Typical for Wisconsin

Secchi · sampled 2026

Phosphorus

17.1 µg/L

Typical for Wisconsin

Measured by Wisconsin DNR

Water temp

~74°F

Typical for Aug · EPA WQP

Max depth

25 ft

Bathymetric survey

Area

52 acres

Surface area

Type

Mesotrophic

Trophic class

Mesotrophic
Curly-Leaf Pondweed
25 ft max depth
Public access

See the measurements Directions Where to stay

Little Elkhart Lake in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 10 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 52 acres.

Wisconsin DNR rates Largemouth Bass as abundant on Little Elkhart Lake. DNR survey details →

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Little Elkhart Lake is a 52-acre mesotrophic lake in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 25 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 5 other monitored lakes in Sheboygan County, Little Elkhart Lake ranks #1 for water quality.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-29. Methodology: how these readings are compared.

Little Elkhart Lake covers about 52 acres in Sheboygan County. It has one public boat landing. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Little Elkhart Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.

What Little Elkhart Lake is good for

From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.

Clear water10 ft of visibility
Boat launch1 documented ramp
Fishing3 species recorded

Swimming conditions

Readings only

Low algae

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 Little Elkhart 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.

Compare swimming lakes near Oshkosh →

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Water quality measurements for Little Elkhart Lake

These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Little Elkhart Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.

Good clarity, visible to about 10 ft. Phosphorus 17.1 µg/L. TSI 45.

Water quality readings
Measure	Reading	Where it sits
Water clarity (Secchi depth)	10ft	Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer.
Total phosphorus	17.1µg/L	Good 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.	45	Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic

Moderate nutrients, good water quality

Ask about Little Elkhart Lake

Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.

Water Temperature

Little Elkhart Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 78°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 82°F) and coldest in Aug (about 74°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

79°

Jun

82°

Jul

74°

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (74°F) to its warmest (82°F).

Typical surface water temperature by month, from 9 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Little Elkhart Lake water temperature breakdown →

DNR fisheries survey

Wisconsin DNR rates Largemouth Bass as abundant on Little Elkhart Lake.

A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Little Elkhart Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is declining. 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 1998. 11 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).

DNR Assessment

Good · Deep Seepage lake

Trophic State Index 45 (mesotrophic) · 5-year average

Fish Species (DNR-rated)

Largemouth Bass(Abundant)Northern Pike(Common)Panfish(Present)

Contour map (PDF) →Full WI DNR LakePage →Water quality stations →

Lake Details

Max depth

25 ft

Surface area

52 acres

Public access

Yes

Listed by Wisconsin DNR

Lake Size & Watershed

Watershed (drainage) area

1 sq mi

HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS

Shoreline

1.4 mi

HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS

Elevation

889 ft

Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).

Recreation & Access

Boat Landings

Yes

Public Access

Little Elkhart LakePublic

Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps

Stays via Stay22

Stays near Little Elkhart Lake

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Little Elkhart Lake in Sheboygan 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 Little Elkhart 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 whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →

Follow Little Elkhart Lake’s readings

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Fish Species

Panfish Largemouth Bass Northern Pike

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

Fishing Little Elkhart 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.

Chinese Mystery SnailCurly-Leaf PondweedEurasian Water-Milfoil

Water Quality Trend: Worsening

Based on 7 years of monitoring (2020–2026).

Water clarity
Worsening
4 years
Phosphorus
Stable
-0.02 µg/L/yr7 years

See year-by-year chart →

Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby

4 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Little Elkhart Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.

Sartori Company-West Main Building
Plymouth · 4 mi away · NPDES WI0041904
Recent violation
Johnsonville Sausage Llc
Sheboygan Falls · 4.1 mi away · NPDES WI0001759
Recent violation
Hanke Farms Inc
Plymouth, Town Of · 3.6 mi away · NPDES WI0063169
Highland Crossing Dairy Llc
Sherman, Town Of · 4.7 mi away · NPDES WI0063151

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 Sheboygan County

Crystal Lake—View →Crystal Lake20 ft clear · Oligotrophic—View →Elkhart Lake10.5 ft clear · Mesotrophic—View →Sheboygan Lake—View →Waldo Mill Pond—View →Lake Ellen9 ft clear · Mesotrophic—View →

Frequently asked questions about Little Elkhart Lake

Where is Little Elkhart Lake?: Little Elkhart Lake is a lake in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Little Elkhart Lake?: Little Elkhart Lake in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 10 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 52 acres.
Is Little Elkhart Lake safe to swim in?: Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Little Elkhart Lake?: Little Elkhart Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August, from 9 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Little Elkhart Lake?: Little Elkhart Lake has a maximum depth of 25 feet. The lake covers 52 acres.
What fish are in Little Elkhart Lake?: Fish species found in Little Elkhart Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Little Elkhart Lake is located in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Little Elkhart Lake?: Wisconsin DNR rates Largemouth Bass as abundant on Little Elkhart Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Little Elkhart Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Little Elkhart Lake?: Little Elkhart Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Little Elkhart Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Little Elkhart Lake?: Little Elkhart Lake has 1 documented boat landing 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 Little Elkhart Lake across LakeQuality

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State Parks Near Little Elkhart Lake

Kohler-Andrae State Park

State Park · 16.1 mi

Harrington Beach State Park

State Park · 23.5 mi

Other Lakes in Wisconsin

Cedar Lake

Manitowoc County · 10.2 ft

Shoe Lake

Manitowoc County · 7 ft

Horseshoe Lake

Manitowoc County · 6.5 ft

Wilke Lake

Manitowoc County · 7 ft

Spring Lake

Manitowoc County · 8 ft

Pigeon Lake

Manitowoc County · 9.3 ft

Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin

Cedar Lake Wilke Lake Spring Lake Little Pigeon Lake

Where this data comes from

61 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.

Collected and reported by

Wisconsin Department of Natural ResourcesWIDNR_WQX61 samples · 2020–2026

Analytical methods

Phosphorus by Colorimetry

Monitoring station identifiers (1)

WIDNR_WQX-603441

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)

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