Velvet Lake
Velvet Lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 12.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 16 ft. Surface area: 34 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Largemouth Bass as abundant on Velvet Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 12.8 ft
- Typical in August
- 76°F
- Max depth
- 16 ft
- Area
- 34 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
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Velvet Lake is a 34-acre mesotrophic lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 16 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 3 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Smallmouth Bass. Compared to the 66 other monitored lakes in Oneida County, Velvet Lake ranks #10 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-29. 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)
Good clarity, visible to about 12.8 ft. Phosphorus level: 14.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 42.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 14.6 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 42 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Velvet Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Velvet Lake in Oneida 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 Velvet Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Velvet Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 72°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 76°F) and coldest in Sep (about 64°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 10 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal.
Wisconsin DNR rates Largemouth Bass as abundant on Velvet Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Velvet 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 2005. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Velvet Lake covering fish populations, stocking, water quality, and management. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- 2024Flannery and Velvet lakes spring shocking survey, 2024Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2024 (PDF)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 16 ft |
| Surface Area | 34 acres |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Velvet Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.134 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.35 µg/L/yr | 6 |
County Ranking
Ranked #10 of 67 lakes in Oneida County
Nearby Lakes in Oneida County
Frequently asked questions about Velvet Lake
Where is Velvet Lake?
- Velvet Lake is a lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Velvet Lake?
- Velvet Lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 12.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 16 ft. Surface area: 34 acres.
Is Velvet Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Velvet Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Velvet Lake?
- Velvet Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August, from 10 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Velvet Lake?
- Velvet Lake has a maximum depth of 16 feet. The lake covers 34 acres.
What fish are in Velvet Lake?
- Fish species found in Velvet Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass. Velvet Lake is located in Oneida County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Velvet Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Largemouth Bass as abundant on Velvet Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Velvet 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.
Explore Velvet Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
43 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_WQX43 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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes