Moon Bay Lake
Chippewa County, Wisconsin6,148 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Moon Bay Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- 2 aquatic invasives
- 64 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Moon Bay Lake in Chippewa County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. 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 →
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 3 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2024-03-18. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Moon Bay Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch3 documented ramps
- Fishing8 species recorded
- Deep water64.4 ft surveyed max depth
- Big water6,148 acres
Swimming conditions
No readingBacteria tested: low
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.
Whether Moon Bay 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.
Water quality measurements for Moon Bay Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Moon Bay Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Murky, only visible to about 3.7 ft. TSI 58.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 3.7ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | No reading The nutrient that most limits algae growth in freshwater. More phosphorus, more algae potential. | |
| 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. | 58 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Moon Bay Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (64°F) to its warmest (82°F).
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 water quality. LakeQuality shows Moon Bay Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, 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
Max depth
64.4 ft
Surface area
6,148 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Recreation & Access
- Lake Wissota State ParkPublic
- 196th StreetPublic
- County Highway SPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays 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
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every 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: Worsening
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Worsening6 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+10.18 µg/L/yr6 years
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. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Moon Bay Lake?
- Moon Bay Lake in Chippewa County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. 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 is a historical summary of past bacteria testing, not a current reading and not a swimming clearance. Bacteria levels can spike quickly after heavy rain, so whether Moon Bay Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for Wisconsin's water agency and the county health department; check their current beach 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 water quality. LakeQuality shows Moon Bay Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, 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 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Wissota State Park, 196th Street, County Highway S. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Moon Bay Lake?
- Moon Bay Lake has 3 documented boat landings 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.
Explore Moon Bay Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest 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 readings
Lakes in the Chippewa River Watershed, ranked by water quality
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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)
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
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory