Namekagon Lake
Namekagon Lake in Bayfield County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Phosphorus: 11.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 23 ft. Surface area: 558 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Walleye as abundant on Namekagon Lake. DNR survey details →
- Max depth
- 23 ft
- Area
- 558 acres
- Public access
- Yes
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Why Namekagon 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 Namekagon Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Sampling here has recorded phosphorus, but not water clarity 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.
Namekagon Lake is a 558-acre lake in Bayfield County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 23 feet. The lake supports 6 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 2020-08-02. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Namekagon Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 11.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 40.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 11.7 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Oligotrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water, excellent for swimming
Where to stay near Namekagon Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Namekagon Lake in Bayfield 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 Namekagon Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Wisconsin DNR rates Walleye as abundant on Namekagon 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 Namekagon Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter. 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. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2023).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Namekagon Lake covering fish populations, stocking, water quality, and management. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- 2025Lake Namekagon fishery management plan, 2025Management Plan · WI DNR · 2025 (PDF)
- —Lake Namekagon fishery survey, 2021-2022Fisheries Survey · WI DNR (PDF)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 23 ft |
| Surface Area | 558 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Namekagon LakePublic
- Garden LakePublic
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 Namekagon 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.
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Namekagon Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Namekagon (completed 1886), built primarily for recreation on the NAMEKAGON; gravity-type dam, 9 ft tall and 120 ft long.
- Surface area
- 3,208 ac
- Normal storage
- 13,000 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 19,700 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 47.7 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Town Of Namakagon
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI00623 · Operator website
Graded lakes near Namekagon Lake
Namekagon Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Bayfield County
Frequently asked questions about Namekagon Lake
Where is Namekagon Lake?
- Namekagon Lake is a lake in Bayfield 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 Namekagon Lake?
- Namekagon Lake in Bayfield County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Phosphorus: 11.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 23 ft. Surface area: 558 acres.
Is Namekagon Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Namekagon Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Namekagon Lake?
- Namekagon Lake has a maximum depth of 23 feet. The lake covers 558 acres.
What fish are in Namekagon Lake?
- Fish species found in Namekagon Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Namekagon Lake is located in Bayfield County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Namekagon Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Walleye as abundant on Namekagon 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 Namekagon Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Namekagon Lake?
- Namekagon Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Namekagon Lake, Garden Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Namekagon Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
1 measurement from 1 monitoring station, 2020. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX1 sample · 2020
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
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
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