North White Ash Lake
Polk County, Wisconsin116 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for North White Ash Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- 2 aquatic invasives
- 9 ft max depth
- Public access
North White Ash Lake in Polk County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 58.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 9 ft. Surface area: 116 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on North White Ash Lake. DNR survey details →
North White Ash Lake is a 116-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Polk County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 9 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. Compared to the 54 other monitored lakes in Polk County, North White Ash Lake ranks #46 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-07-09. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What North White Ash Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Fishing3 species recorded
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 White Ash Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5R) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether North White Ash 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 White Ash Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for North White Ash 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 5 ft. Phosphorus 58.7 µg/L. TSI 58.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 5ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 58.7µg/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. | 58 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about North White Ash Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
North White Ash Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 77°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 82°F) and coldest in Sep (about 73°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (73°F) to its warmest (82°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 16 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full North White Ash Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on North White Ash Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows North White Ash Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 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 1993. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
Max depth
9 ft
Surface area
116 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
33 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
2 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,109 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Stays via Stay22
Stays near North White Ash Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near North White Ash Lake in Polk 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 North White Ash Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near North White Ash Lake
Prices for Oct 16–18, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing North White Ash Lake
- → North White Ash Lake fishing: DNR survey catch rates, species & stocking
- → North White Ash Lake fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → North White Ash Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from North White Ash Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
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 7 years of monitoring (2020–2026).
Water clarity
Worsening7 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+2.44 µg/L/yr7 years
EPA Impairment Status
North White Ash 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 WI10005042 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Polk County
Frequently asked questions about North White Ash Lake
Where is North White Ash Lake?
- North White Ash Lake is a lake in Polk 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 White Ash Lake?
- North White Ash Lake in Polk County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 58.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 9 ft. Surface area: 116 acres.
Is North White Ash Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. North White Ash Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5R) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of North White Ash Lake?
- North White Ash Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in September, from 16 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is North White Ash Lake?
- North White Ash Lake has a maximum depth of 9 feet. The lake covers 116 acres.
What fish are in North White Ash Lake?
- Fish species found in North White Ash Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. North White Ash Lake is located in Polk County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at North White Ash Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on North White Ash Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows North White Ash Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Can I fish at North White Ash Lake?
- Public access to North White Ash Lake is listed as yes on the lake record. 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 North White Ash Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
59 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX59 samples · 2020–2026
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes