Muskego Lake
Waukesha County, Wisconsin2,194 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Muskego Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- 2 aquatic invasives
- 23 ft max depth
- Public access
Muskego Lake in Waukesha County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Phosphorus: 59.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 23 ft. Surface area: 2194 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Muskego Lake. DNR survey details →
Muskego Lake is a 2,194-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Waukesha County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 23 feet. Overall water quality is declining 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 34 other monitored lakes in Waukesha County, Muskego Lake ranks #35 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2022-05-11. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Muskego Lake covers about 2,200 acres in Waukesha County. It has one public boat landing. For a place on the water, look through cabin and lake-house rentals near Muskego Lake on Vrbo. For a hotel or motel room, Booking.com and Expedia both search around the lake.
What Muskego Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing3 species recorded
- Big water2,194 acres
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyElevated nutrients
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Muskego 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 Muskego Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Muskego Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
No clarity data. Phosphorus 59.4 µg/L. TSI 63.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | No reading How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. | |
| Total phosphorus | 59.4µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| 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. | 63 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Muskego Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Muskego Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Muskego Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 2 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. 32 stations on file (most recent sample 2023).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
Max depth
23 ft
Surface area
2,194 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
19 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
12.2 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
764 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Wind Lake CanalPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Muskego Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Muskego Lake in Waukesha 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. The water-quality readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Muskego Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Muskego Lake
Prices for Oct 16–18, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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 whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Follow Muskego Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Muskego 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 readings over time
2 seasons of samples on record (2020–2021). Calling a direction takes at least 4 years of the same measurement.
Phosphorus
Worsening+91.2 µg/L/yr2 years
Nearby Lakes in Waukesha County
Frequently asked questions about Muskego Lake
Where is Muskego Lake?
- Muskego Lake is a lake in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Muskego Lake?
- Muskego Lake in Waukesha County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Phosphorus: 59.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 23 ft. Surface area: 2194 acres.
Is Muskego Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Muskego Lake?
- Muskego Lake has a maximum depth of 23 feet. The lake covers 2194 acres.
What fish are in Muskego Lake?
- Fish species found in Muskego Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Muskego Lake is located in Waukesha County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Muskego Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Muskego Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Muskego Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Muskego Lake?
- Muskego Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Wind Lake Canal. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Muskego Lake?
- Muskego Lake has 1 documented boat landing 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 Muskego Lake across LakeQuality
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Fish species and best lakes in Waukesha County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its readings
Wisconsin's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Where this data comes from
36 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX36 samples · 2020–2022
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
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
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