Wapogasset Lake
Polk County, Wisconsin1,189 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Wapogasset Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- 2 aquatic invasives
- 32 ft max depth
- Public access
Wapogasset Lake in Polk County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 32 ft. Surface area: 1189 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Wapogasset Lake. DNR survey details →
Wapogasset Lake is a 1,189-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Polk County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 32 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 54 other monitored lakes in Polk County, Wapogasset Lake ranks #33 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-21. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Wapogasset Lake covers about 1,200 acres in Polk County. It has 2 public boat landings, so a lakefront rental is not the only way to get a boat on the water. If you are planning to stay, you can search lake houses and cabins around Wapogasset Lake on Vrbo, or look for a hotel room near the lake on Booking.com or Expedia.
What Wapogasset Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
- Fishing5 species recorded
- Deep water32 ft surveyed max depth
- Big water1,189 acres
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. Wapogasset Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5R) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Wapogasset 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 Wapogasset Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Wapogasset Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Murky, only visible to about 6 ft. Phosphorus 30.5 µg/L. TSI 52.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 6ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 30.5µg/L | Fair 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. | 52 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Wapogasset Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Wapogasset Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 78°F) and coldest in Sep (about 69°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (69°F) to its warmest (78°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 28 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Wapogasset Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Wapogasset Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Wapogasset 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 1991. 13 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
Max depth
32 ft
Surface area
1,189 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Recreation & Access
- Sunrise BeachPublic
- Wapogasset 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 Wapogasset Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Wapogasset Lake in Polk 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 Wapogasset Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Wapogasset 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
Improving6 years
Phosphorus
Stable+0.23 µg/L/yr7 years
EPA Impairment Status
Wapogasset Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5R).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life, Recreation.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10026576 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Polk County
Frequently asked questions about Wapogasset Lake
Where is Wapogasset Lake?
- Wapogasset Lake is a lake in Polk County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Wapogasset Lake?
- Wapogasset Lake in Polk County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 32 ft. Surface area: 1189 acres.
Is Wapogasset Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Wapogasset Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5R) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Wapogasset Lake?
- Wapogasset Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in September, from 28 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Wapogasset Lake?
- Wapogasset Lake has a maximum depth of 32 feet. The lake covers 1189 acres.
What fish are in Wapogasset Lake?
- Fish species found in Wapogasset Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Wapogasset Lake is located in Polk County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Wapogasset Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Wapogasset Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Wapogasset 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.
Are there boat ramps on Wapogasset Lake?
- Wapogasset Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Sunrise Beach, Wapogasset Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Wapogasset Lake?
- Wapogasset Lake has 2 documented boat landings 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 Wapogasset 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 Polk County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the St. Croix Watershed, ranked by water quality
Wisconsin's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Where this data comes from
153 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX153 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory