Oxbow Lake
Oxbow Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). 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 →
- Clarity
- 8 ft
- Typical in August
- 71°F
- Max depth
- 44 ft
- Area
- 523 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Oxbow Lake is a 523-acre mesotrophic lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 44 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2026. 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 3 public boat landings. 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. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8 ft. Phosphorus level: 15.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 45.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 15.1 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay 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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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
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.
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 a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Oxbow Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 44 ft |
| Surface Area | 523 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Ormes LakePublic
- Little Oxbow LakePublic
- Oxbow 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 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 data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.509 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.45 µg/L/yr | 7 |
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
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #12 of 103 lakes in Vilas County
Nearby Lakes in Vilas County
Frequently asked questions about Oxbow Lake
Where is Oxbow Lake?
- Oxbow Lake is a lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Oxbow Lake?
- Oxbow Lake in Vilas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). 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?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Oxbow Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
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 a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Oxbow Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Ormes Lake, Little Oxbow Lake, Oxbow Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Oxbow Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Vilas County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Northwoods Wisconsin area
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Wisconsin River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Wisconsin's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Wisconsin
Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
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)
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
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