Machickanee Flowage Lake
Machickanee Flowage Lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 33.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 21 ft. Surface area: 436 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Machickanee Flowage Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 3 ft
- Typical in August
- 71°F
- Max depth
- 21 ft
- Area
- 436 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Machickanee Flowage Lake is a 436-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 21 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Smallmouth Bass. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 38 other monitored lakes in Oconto County, Machickanee Flowage Lake ranks #34 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-27. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 33.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 58.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 33.4 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 58 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Machickanee Flowage Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Machickanee Flowage Lake in Oconto 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.
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Machickanee Flowage Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jun (about 74°F) and coldest in May (about 65°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 11 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Machickanee Flowage Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Machickanee Flowage Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Machickanee Flowage Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is improving. 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 1992. 2 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Machickanee Flowage 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).
- 2017Machickanee Lake comprehensive survey 2017Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2017 (PDF)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 21 ft |
| Surface Area | 436 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- MachickaneePublic
- Iron BridgePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Machickanee Flowage 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.
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.207 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.13 µg/L/yr | 7 |
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
4 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Machickanee Flowage Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 2 classified by the EPA as major dischargers. 4 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Kimberly Clark Corporation MarinetteMarinette · 3.3 mi away · NPDES WI0000540MajorRecent violation
- St Paper LlcOconto · 3.9 mi away · NPDES WI0000531MajorRecent violation
- Oconto Falls Wastewater Treatment FacilityOconto Falls · 3.3 mi away · NPDES WI0022870Recent violation
- Springside Cheese CorporationOconto Falls · 3.8 mi away · NPDES WI0053015Recent violation
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 #34 of 39 lakes in Oconto County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Machickanee Flowage Lake holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Oconto County
Frequently asked questions about Machickanee Flowage Lake
Where is Machickanee Flowage Lake?
- Machickanee Flowage Lake is a lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Machickanee Flowage Lake?
- Machickanee Flowage Lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 33.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 21 ft. Surface area: 436 acres.
Is Machickanee Flowage Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Machickanee Flowage Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Machickanee Flowage Lake?
- Machickanee Flowage Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August, from 11 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Machickanee Flowage Lake?
- Machickanee Flowage Lake has a maximum depth of 21 feet. The lake covers 436 acres.
What fish are in Machickanee Flowage Lake?
- Fish species found in Machickanee Flowage Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike. Machickanee Flowage Lake is located in Oconto County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Machickanee Flowage Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Machickanee Flowage Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Machickanee Flowage Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Machickanee Flowage Lake?
- Machickanee Flowage Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Machickanee, Iron Bridge. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Machickanee Flowage Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
43 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_WQX43 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