Little Green Lake
Little Green Lake in Green Lake County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 92.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 28 ft. Surface area: 462 acres.
- Clarity
- 3.2 ft
- Max depth
- 28 ft
- Area
- 462 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Little Green Lake →
Next lake in Green Lake County
Little Green Lake is a 462-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Green Lake County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 28 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 6 other monitored lakes in Green Lake County, Little Green Lake ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-15. 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)
Very murky, less than 3.2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 92.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 65.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 92.8 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 65 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Little Green Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Little Green Lake in Green Lake 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 Little Green Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Little Green Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 28 ft |
| Surface Area | 462 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Lake Shore DrivePublic
- Kearley BayPublic
- Welk RoadPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Little Green 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. 26 stations on file (most recent sample 2023).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.3 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -6.83 µg/L/yr | 4 |
EPA Impairment Status
Little Green Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10006144 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
3 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Little Green Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Markesan Wastewater Treatment FacilityMarkesan · 2.6 mi away · NPDES WI0024619Recent violation
- Del Monte Corporation Markesan Plant #116Markesan · 2.1 mi away · NPDES WI0027448
- Mam FarmsManchester, Town Of · 3.8 mi away · NPDES WI0065781
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 7 lakes in Green Lake County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Little Green 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 Green Lake County
Frequently asked questions about Little Green Lake
What is the water quality grade for Little Green Lake?
- Little Green Lake in Green Lake County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 92.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 28 ft. Surface area: 462 acres.
Is Little Green 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. Little Green Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Little Green Lake?
- Little Green Lake has a maximum depth of 28 feet. The lake covers 462 acres.
What fish are in Little Green Lake?
- Fish species found in Little Green Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Walleye. Little Green Lake is located in Green Lake County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Little Green Lake?
- Little Green Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Shore Drive, Kearley Bay, Welk Road. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Little Green Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Green Lake County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
110 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_WQX110 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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
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