Lower Nashotah Lake
Waukesha County, Wisconsin93 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Lower Nashotah Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- 2 aquatic invasives
- 43 ft max depth
- Public access
Lower Nashotah Lake in Waukesha County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 43 ft. Surface area: 93 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Lower Nashotah Lake. DNR survey details →
Lower Nashotah Lake is a 93-acre mesotrophic lake in Waukesha County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 43 feet. The lake supports 6 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Smallmouth Bass. Public access is available. Compared to the 34 other monitored lakes in Waukesha County, Lower Nashotah Lake ranks #22 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-07-13. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Lower Nashotah Lake covers about 93 acres in Waukesha County. If you are planning to stay, you can search lake houses and cabins around Lower Nashotah Lake on Vrbo, or look for a hotel room near the lake on Booking.com or Expedia.
What Lower Nashotah Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Fishing6 species recorded
- Deep water43 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLow 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 Lower Nashotah 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.
Water quality measurements for Lower Nashotah Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Lower Nashotah Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9 ft. Phosphorus 11.3 µg/L. TSI 42.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 9ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 11.3µg/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. | 42 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Lower Nashotah Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Lower Nashotah Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in May (about 63°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (63°F) to its warmest (77°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 25 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lower Nashotah Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Lower Nashotah Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Lower Nashotah Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is stable. 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 1987. 2 stations on file (most recent sample 2026).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
Max depth
43 ft
Surface area
93 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
0 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
1.8 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
879 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Lower Nashotah Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lower Nashotah Lake in Waukesha 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 Lower Nashotah Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lower Nashotah Lake
- → Lower Nashotah Lake fishing: DNR survey catch rates, species & stocking
- → Lower Nashotah Lake fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → Lower Nashotah Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from Lower Nashotah Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Water Quality Trend: Stable
Based on 7 years of monitoring (2020–2026).
Water clarity
Stable7 years
Phosphorus
Stable-0.04 µg/L/yr7 years
Nearby Lakes in Waukesha County
Frequently asked questions about Lower Nashotah Lake
Where is Lower Nashotah Lake?
- Lower Nashotah Lake is a lake in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Lower Nashotah Lake?
- Lower Nashotah Lake in Waukesha County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 43 ft. Surface area: 93 acres.
Is Lower Nashotah 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 Lower Nashotah Lake?
- Lower Nashotah Lake typically sits around 64°F at the surface in October, from 25 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Lower Nashotah Lake?
- Lower Nashotah Lake has a maximum depth of 43 feet. The lake covers 93 acres.
What fish are in Lower Nashotah Lake?
- Fish species found in Lower Nashotah Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Trout, Walleye. Lower Nashotah Lake is located in Waukesha County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Lower Nashotah Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Lower Nashotah Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Lower Nashotah Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Can I fish at Lower Nashotah Lake?
- Public access to Lower Nashotah Lake is listed as yes on the lake record. 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 Lower Nashotah Lake across LakeQuality
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
78 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX78 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes