Moon Bay Lake
Moon Bay Lake in Chippewa County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 3.7 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 64.4 ft. Surface area: 6148 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Walleye as abundant on Moon Bay Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 3.7 ft
- Typical in August
- 76°F
- Max depth
- 64.4 ft
- Area
- 6,148 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Chippewa County
Swipe left or right on this bar to open the next or previous lake.
Why Moon Bay Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Moon Bay Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by WI DNR and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Moon Bay Lake is a 6,148-acre lake in Chippewa County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 64 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 8 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2024-03-18. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Watch Moon Bay Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Not ratedBacteria B
Based on E. coli testing, Moon Bay Lake rarely exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 2.5% of 81 samples across 7 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 measurements for Moon Bay Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 3.7 ft. Trophic State Index: 58.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 58 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Moon Bay Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Moon Bay Lake in Chippewa 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 Moon Bay Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip? Cabins and lodging at Moon Bay Lake → · more Wisconsin lake trips
Water Temperature
Moon Bay Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 77°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 82°F) and coldest in May (about 64°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 23 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Moon Bay Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR rates Walleye as abundant on Moon Bay Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Moon Bay Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. 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 1990. 21 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 64.4 ft |
| Surface Area | 6,148 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Lake Wissota State ParkPublic
- 196th StreetPublic
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 Moon Bay 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: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.107 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +10.18 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Moon Bay Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10025271 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Moon Bay Lake
Moon Bay Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Chippewa County
Frequently asked questions about Moon Bay Lake
Where is Moon Bay Lake?
- Moon Bay Lake is a lake in Chippewa County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — there is not enough recent sampling to assign a letter.
What is the water quality grade for Moon Bay Lake?
- Moon Bay Lake in Chippewa County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 3.7 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 64.4 ft. Surface area: 6148 acres.
Is Moon Bay Lake safe to swim in?
- Based on E. coli testing, Moon Bay Lake rarely exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 2.5% of 81 samples across 7 seasons. That works out to a bacteria swim-safety grade of B — a historical summary of past testing, not a current reading. Moon Bay Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. 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 Moon Bay Lake?
- Moon Bay Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August, from 23 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Moon Bay Lake?
- Moon Bay Lake has a maximum depth of 64.4 feet. The lake covers 6148 acres.
What fish are in Moon Bay Lake?
- Fish species found in Moon Bay Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Sturgeon, Catfish. Moon Bay Lake is located in Chippewa County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Moon Bay Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Walleye as abundant on Moon Bay Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Moon Bay Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Moon Bay Lake?
- Moon Bay Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Wissota State Park, 196th Street. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Moon Bay Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Chippewa County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Chippewa River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Wisconsin's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Moon Bay Lake
Other Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
10 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX10 samples · 2020–2024
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory