Little Elkhart Lake
Little Elkhart Lake in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 10 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 52 acres.
- Clarity
- 10 ft
- Typical in August
- 74°F
- Max depth
- 25 ft
- Area
- 52 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Sheboygan County
Little Elkhart Lake is a 52-acre mesotrophic lake in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 25 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2026. 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 2 public boat landings. 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. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Good clarity, visible to about 10 ft. Phosphorus level: 17.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 45.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 17.1 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay 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
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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.
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 →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 25 ft |
| Surface Area | 52 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Big and Little Gerber LakesPublic
- Little Elkhart LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded 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.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 1998. 11 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.65 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.02 µg/L/yr | 7 |
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 BuildingPlymouth · 4 mi away · NPDES WI0041904Recent violation
- Johnsonville Sausage LlcSheboygan Falls · 4.1 mi away · NPDES WI0001759Recent violation
- Hanke Farms IncPlymouth, Town Of · 3.6 mi away · NPDES WI0063169
- Highland Crossing Dairy LlcSherman, 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.
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 6 lakes in Sheboygan County
Nearby Lakes in Sheboygan County
Frequently asked questions about Little Elkhart Lake
What is the water quality grade for Little Elkhart Lake?
- Little Elkhart Lake in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). 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?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Little Elkhart Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
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 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Big and Little Gerber Lakes, Little Elkhart Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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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 Resources
WIDNR_WQX61 samples · 2020–2026
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
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