Margaret Lake
Margaret Lake in Polk County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 15.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Maximum depth: 17 ft. Surface area: 42 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as present on Margaret Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 15.5 ft
- Max depth
- 17 ft
- Area
- 42 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Margaret Lake is a 42-acre mesotrophic lake in Polk County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 17 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2024. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 54 other monitored lakes in Polk County, Margaret Lake ranks #38 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2024-09-09. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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)
Crystal clear, you can see 15.5 ft down. Phosphorus level: 30 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 45.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 15.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 30 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Margaret Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Margaret Lake in Polk 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 Margaret Lake
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Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as present on Margaret Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Margaret Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 2 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. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2024).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 17 ft |
| Surface Area | 42 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Somers LakePublic
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 Margaret Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +4 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | 0 µg/L/yr | 2 |
County Ranking
Ranked #38 of 55 lakes in Polk County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Margaret Lake holds Grade C. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Polk County
Frequently asked questions about Margaret Lake
Where is Margaret Lake?
- Margaret Lake is a lake in Polk County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Margaret Lake?
- Margaret Lake in Polk County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 15.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30 µg/L. Maximum depth: 17 ft. Surface area: 42 acres.
Is Margaret Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Margaret Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Margaret Lake?
- Margaret Lake has a maximum depth of 17 feet. The lake covers 42 acres.
What fish are in Margaret Lake?
- Fish species found in Margaret Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Margaret Lake is located in Polk County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Margaret Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as present on Margaret Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Margaret Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Margaret Lake?
- Margaret Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Somers Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Margaret Lake across LakeQuality
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Fish species and best lakes in Polk County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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State Parks Near Margaret Lake
Other Grade C Lakes in Wisconsin
Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
12 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2023–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX12 samples · 2023–2024
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory