Wapogasset Lake
Wapogasset Lake in Polk County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). 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 →
- Clarity
- 6 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Max depth
- 32 ft
- Area
- 1,189 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Wapogasset Lake is a 1,189-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Polk County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 32 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2026. 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. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 6 ft. Phosphorus level: 30.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 52.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 30.5 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 52 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay 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
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Wapogasset Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. 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.
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 a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Wapogasset Lake C 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 1991. 13 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 32 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,189 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
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
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded 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 data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.607 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.23 µg/L/yr | 7 |
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
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10026576 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #33 of 55 lakes in Polk County
Nearby Lakes in Polk County
Frequently asked questions about Wapogasset Lake
Where is Wapogasset Lake?
- Wapogasset Lake is a lake in Polk County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Wapogasset Lake?
- Wapogasset Lake in Polk County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). 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?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Wapogasset Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Wapogasset Lake?
- Wapogasset Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, 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 a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Wapogasset Lake C 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.
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.
Explore Wapogasset Lake across LakeQuality
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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)
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
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