Upper Kelly Lake
Upper Kelly Lake in Waukesha County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 31 ft. Surface area: 13 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Upper Kelly Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 2 ft
- Max depth
- 31 ft
- Area
- 13 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Why Upper Kelly 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 Upper Kelly Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus 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.
Upper Kelly Lake is a 13-acre lake in Waukesha County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 31 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 2 documented fish species including Panfish and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2024-09-09. 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 Upper Kelly Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Very murky, less than 2 ft of visibility. Trophic State Index: 67.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 67 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Upper Kelly Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Upper Kelly 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 Upper Kelly Lake
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Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Upper Kelly 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 Upper Kelly Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 3 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. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2024).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 31 ft |
| Surface Area | 13 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Upper Kelly 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 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.188 m/yr | 2 |
EPA Impairment Status
Upper Kelly Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5R).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10008146 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Upper Kelly Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- New Berlin Public SchoolsNew Berlin · 3.4 mi away · NPDES WI0029998
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.
Graded lakes near Upper Kelly Lake
Upper Kelly Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Waukesha County
Frequently asked questions about Upper Kelly Lake
Where is Upper Kelly Lake?
- Upper Kelly Lake is a lake in Waukesha 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 Upper Kelly Lake?
- Upper Kelly Lake in Waukesha County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 31 ft. Surface area: 13 acres.
Is Upper Kelly Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Upper Kelly 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 Upper Kelly Lake?
- Upper Kelly Lake has a maximum depth of 31 feet. The lake covers 13 acres.
What fish are in Upper Kelly Lake?
- Fish species found in Upper Kelly Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass. Upper Kelly Lake is located in Waukesha County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Upper Kelly Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Upper Kelly 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 Upper Kelly Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 3 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
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Where this data comes from
23 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX23 samples · 2020–2024
Analytical methods
- Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
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)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes