North Lake
Waukesha County, Wisconsin440 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for North Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- Zebra Mussel
- 78 ft max depth
North Lake in Waukesha County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 78.4 ft. Surface area: 440 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on North Lake. DNR survey details →
North Lake is a 440-acre mesotrophic lake in Waukesha County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 78 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Smallmouth Bass. Compared to the 34 other monitored lakes in Waukesha County, North Lake ranks #12 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-03-31. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
North Lake covers about 440 acres in Waukesha County. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around North Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What North Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Fishing5 species recorded
- Deep water78.4 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
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. North Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5R) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether North 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 North Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for North Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8 ft. Phosphorus 17.9 µg/L. TSI 46.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 8ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 17.9µg/L | Good 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. | 46 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about North Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on North Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows North Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. 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 1986. 10 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
Max depth
78.4 ft
Surface area
440 acres
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Stays near North Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near North 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.
Top-rated places to stay near North Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing North 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: Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Improving5 years
Phosphorus
Stable+0.18 µg/L/yr6 years
EPA Impairment Status
North Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5R).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life, Recreation.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10001324 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Waukesha County
Frequently asked questions about North Lake
Where is North Lake?
- North 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 North Lake?
- North Lake in Waukesha County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 78.4 ft. Surface area: 440 acres.
Is North Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. North Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5R) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is North Lake?
- North Lake has a maximum depth of 78.4 feet. The lake covers 440 acres.
What fish are in North Lake?
- Fish species found in North Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. North Lake is located in Waukesha County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at North Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on North Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows North Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Explore North 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 Waukesha County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Wisconsin's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Compare North Lake With Nearby Lakes
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Where this data comes from
300 measurements from 8 monitoring stations, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX300 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
Monitoring station identifiers (8)
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes