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LakeQuality

Manson Lake

Oneida County, Wisconsin236 acresView mapDirections

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

Clarity
12 ft
Typical for Wisconsin
Secchi · sampled 2026
Phosphorus
10.8 µg/L
Less phosphorus than most
Measured by Wisconsin DNR
Max depth
54 ft
Bathymetric survey
Area
236 acres
Surface area
Type
Oligotrophic
Trophic class
Trend
Improving
6 years of samples
  • Oligotrophic
  • 2 aquatic invasives
  • 54 ft max depth
  • Public access

Manson Lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 12 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 54 ft. Surface area: 236 acres.

Wisconsin DNR lists Musky as common on Manson Lake. DNR survey details →

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Manson Lake is a 236-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 54 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 6 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 66 other monitored lakes in Oneida County, Manson Lake ranks #21 for water quality.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-21. Methodology: how these readings are compared.

What Manson Lake is good for

From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.

  • Clear water12 ft of visibility
  • Boat launch1 documented ramp
  • Fishing6 species recorded
  • Deep water54 ft surveyed max depth

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 Manson 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.

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Water quality measurements for Manson Lake

These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Manson 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 12 ft. Phosphorus 10.8 µg/L. TSI 40.

Water quality readings
MeasureReadingWhere it sits
Water clarity (Secchi depth)12ftMeasured, not scored

How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer.

Total phosphorus10.8µg/LGood
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.40Oligotrophic
OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic

Low nutrients, clear water. No reading is a swimming clearance.

Ask about Manson Lake

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

DNR fisheries survey

Wisconsin DNR lists Musky as common on Manson Lake.

A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Manson Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 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 2000. 2 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).

Fish Species (DNR-rated)

Musky(Common)Panfish(Common)Walleye(Common)Largemouth Bass(Present)Smallmouth Bass(Present)Northern Pike(Present)

Lake Details

Max depth

54 ft

Surface area

236 acres

Public access

Yes

Listed by Wisconsin DNR

Lake Size & Watershed

Watershed (drainage) area

5 sq mi

HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS

Shoreline

3 mi

HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS

Elevation

1,519 ft

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

Recreation & Access

1
Boat Landings
Yes
Public Access
  • Manson 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 Manson Lake

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Manson Lake in Oneida 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 Manson Lake

Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.

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Follow Manson Lake’s readings

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Fish Species

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

Fishing Manson 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.

Banded Mystery SnailChinese Mystery SnailCurly-Leaf PondweedEurasian Water-MilfoilPurple Loosestrife

Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2026).

  • Water clarity

    Improving

    5 years

  • Phosphorus

    Improving

    -0.33 µg/L/yr3 years

See year-by-year chart →

Nearby Lakes in Oneida County

Frequently asked questions about Manson Lake

Where is Manson Lake?

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

What is the water quality of Manson Lake?

Manson Lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 12 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 54 ft. Surface area: 236 acres.

Measurements on this page ↑

Is Manson Lake safe to swim in?

Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.

Swimming on this page ↑

How deep is Manson Lake?

Manson Lake has a maximum depth of 54 feet. The lake covers 236 acres.

What fish are in Manson Lake?

Fish species found in Manson Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Manson Lake is located in Oneida County, Wisconsin.

Fish on this page ↑

What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Manson Lake?

Wisconsin DNR lists Musky as common on Manson Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Manson Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.

DNR on this page ↑

Are there boat ramps on Manson Lake?

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

Access on this page ↑

Can I fish at Manson Lake?

Manson 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.

Access on this page ↑

Oligotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin

Where this data comes from

21 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_WQX21 samples · 2020–2026

Analytical methods

  • Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (1)

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

Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory