Mole Lake
Mole Lake in Forest County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 8.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15.6 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 17 ft. Surface area: 77 acres.
- Clarity
- 8.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 74°F
- Max depth
- 17 ft
- Area
- 77 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Forest County
Mole Lake is a 77-acre mesotrophic lake in Forest County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 17 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 22 other monitored lakes in Forest County, Mole Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-09-17. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria A
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, Mole Lake never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 5 samples across 2 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: A (Excellent)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 15.6 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 1.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 41.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 15.6 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 1.3 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Mole Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Mole Lake in Forest 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 Mole Lake
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Water Temperature
Mole Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 74°F) and coldest in Nov (about 40°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 31 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Mole Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 17 ft |
| Surface Area | 77 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Mole LakeSemi-private
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Mole 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.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 2023. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.75 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -7.37 µg/L/yr | 5 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.43 µg/L/yr | 5 |
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 23 lakes in Forest County
Nearby Lakes in Forest County
Frequently asked questions about Mole Lake
What is the water quality grade for Mole Lake?
- Mole Lake in Forest County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 8.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15.6 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 1.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 17 ft. Surface area: 77 acres.
Is Mole Lake safe to swim in?
- Based on E. coli testing, Mole Lake never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 5 samples across 2 seasons. That works out to a bacteria swim-safety grade of A — a historical summary of past testing, not a current reading. Mole Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). 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 Mole Lake?
- Mole Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August, from 31 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Mole Lake?
- Mole Lake has a maximum depth of 17 feet. The lake covers 77 acres.
What fish are in Mole Lake?
- Fish species found in Mole Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Mole Lake is located in Forest County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Mole Lake?
- Mole Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Mole Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Mole Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
65 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Sokaogon Chippewa Community (Tribal)
SOKAOGON_WQX45 samples · 2020–2025 - Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX20 samples · 2023–2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 4500 P F ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry Automated Ascorbic Acid Method
- 200.7 M ~ ICP-AES For Trace Element Analysis
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Turbidity by Nephelometry
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
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