Oxbow Lake
Vilas County, Wisconsin523 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Oxbow Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Mercury
- 44 ft max depth
- Public access
Oxbow Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 44 ft. Surface area: 523 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Walleye as common on Oxbow Lake. DNR survey details →
Oxbow Lake is a 523-acre mesotrophic lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 44 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 6 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 102 other monitored lakes in Vilas County, Oxbow Lake ranks #12 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-22. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Oxbow Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing6 species recorded
- Deep water44 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. Oxbow Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Oxbow 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 Oxbow Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Oxbow 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 15.1 µg/L. TSI 45.
| 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 | 15.1µg/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. | 45 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Oxbow Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Oxbow Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 72°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 73°F) and coldest in May (about 62°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (62°F) to its warmest (73°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 20 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Oxbow Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Oxbow Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was high (457,088 cells/mL) on May 23, 2026.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Wisconsin DNR lists Walleye as common on Oxbow Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Oxbow Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 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 1992. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
Max depth
44 ft
Surface area
523 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
12 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
10.4 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,670 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Oxbow LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Oxbow Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Oxbow Lake in Vilas 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 Oxbow Lake
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Follow Oxbow Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Oxbow 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 7 years of monitoring (2020–2026).
Water clarity
Improving7 years
Phosphorus
Improving-0.45 µg/L/yr7 years
EPA Impairment Status
Oxbow Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life, Fish consumption, Recreation.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10007691 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Oxbow Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Mdc-Ojibway Hydro TestMarenisco · 4.3 mi away · NPDES MIG670292
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Nearby Lakes in Vilas County
Frequently asked questions about Oxbow Lake
Where is Oxbow Lake?
- Oxbow Lake is a lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Oxbow Lake?
- Oxbow Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 44 ft. Surface area: 523 acres.
Is Oxbow Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Oxbow Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for mercury, nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Oxbow Lake?
- Oxbow Lake typically sits around 71°F at the surface in August, from 20 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Oxbow Lake?
- Oxbow Lake has a maximum depth of 44 feet. The lake covers 523 acres.
What fish are in Oxbow Lake?
- Fish species found in Oxbow Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Oxbow Lake is located in Vilas County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Oxbow Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Walleye as common on Oxbow Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Oxbow Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Does Oxbow Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Oxbow Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was high (457,088 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Wisconsin's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Oxbow Lake?
- Oxbow Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Oxbow Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Oxbow Lake?
- Oxbow 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 Oxbow 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 Vilas County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Wisconsin River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Wisconsin's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Compare Oxbow Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
48 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_WQX48 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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
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