Vern Wolf Lake
Vern Wolf Lake in Kenosha County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 6.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 12 ft. Surface area: 150 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.5 ft
- Max depth
- 12 ft
- Area
- 150 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Kenosha County
Why Vern Wolf Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: 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 Vern Wolf 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.
Vern Wolf Lake is a 150-acre lake in Kenosha County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 12 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2024-08-13. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedBacteria D
Based on E. coli testing, Vern Wolf Lake frequently exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 20.2% of 406 samples across 9 seasons.
This is a historical summary of past testing, not a current condition — bacteria levels change quickly, especially after rain. Always check Wisconsin’s current beach and health-department advisories before swimming.
Water quality measurements for Vern Wolf Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 6.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 50.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 50 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Vern Wolf Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Vern Wolf Lake in Kenosha 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 Vern Wolf Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 12 ft |
| Surface Area | 150 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Vern Wolf LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Vern Wolf 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.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2024).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1 m/yr | 2 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Vern Wolf Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Bong Recreation Area 8 (completed 1972), built primarily for recreation on the TR. BRIGHTON CREEK; earth-type dam, 10 ft tall and 100 ft long.
- Surface area
- 158 ac
- Normal storage
- 600 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 900 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 2.1 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI01149 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.44 km)
Graded lakes near Vern Wolf Lake
Vern Wolf Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Kenosha County
Frequently asked questions about Vern Wolf Lake
What is the water quality grade for Vern Wolf Lake?
- Vern Wolf Lake in Kenosha County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 6.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 12 ft. Surface area: 150 acres.
Is Vern Wolf Lake safe to swim in?
- Based on E. coli testing, Vern Wolf Lake frequently exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 20.2% of 406 samples across 9 seasons. That works out to a bacteria swim-safety grade of D — a historical summary of past testing, not a current reading. Vern Wolf Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Bacteria levels can spike quickly after heavy rain, so always check Wisconsin's current beach and health-department advisories before you swim.
How deep is Vern Wolf Lake?
- Vern Wolf Lake has a maximum depth of 12 feet. The lake covers 150 acres.
What fish are in Vern Wolf Lake?
- Fish species found in Vern Wolf Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Vern Wolf Lake is located in Kenosha County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Vern Wolf Lake?
- Vern Wolf Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Vern Wolf Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
4 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX4 samples · 2022–2024
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory