Milwaukee River Lake
Milwaukee River Lake in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 54 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 15 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 5.2 ft
- Typical in August
- 71°F
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
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Milwaukee River Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. Water quality is graded C based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-11-05. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria D · advisory
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.
Based on E. coli testing, Milwaukee River Lake frequently exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 16% of 125 samples across 8 seasons.
This is a historical summary of past testing, not a current condition — bacteria levels change quickly, especially after rain. Always check Wisconsin’s current beach and health-department advisories before swimming.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 5.2 ft. Phosphorus level: 54 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 15 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 57.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 54 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 15 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 57 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Milwaukee River Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Milwaukee River Lake in Milwaukee 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 Milwaukee River Lake
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Water Temperature
Milwaukee River Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 66°F. Usually warmest in Sep (about 72°F) and coldest in Mar (about 43°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 246 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Milwaukee River Lake water temperature breakdown →
Fishing Milwaukee River Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.109 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +3.36 µg/L/yr | 6 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +8.25 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Milwaukee River Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10008753 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.25 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Milwaukee County
Nearby Lakes in Milwaukee County
Frequently asked questions about Milwaukee River Lake
Where is Milwaukee River Lake?
- Milwaukee River Lake is a lake in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Milwaukee River Lake?
- Milwaukee River Lake in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 54 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 15 µg/L.
Is Milwaukee River Lake safe to swim in?
- Based on E. coli testing, Milwaukee River Lake frequently exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 16% of 125 samples across 8 seasons. That works out to a bacteria swim-safety grade of D — a historical summary of past testing, not a current reading. Milwaukee River Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Bacteria levels can spike quickly after heavy rain, so always check Wisconsin's current beach and health-department advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Milwaukee River Lake?
- Milwaukee River Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August, from 246 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
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Where this data comes from
1,450 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District
WI_MMSD1,450 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes