Ward Lake
Polk County, Wisconsin82 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Ward Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- 43 ft max depth
- Public access
Ward Lake in Polk County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 22.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 43 ft. Surface area: 82 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Northern Pike as common on Ward Lake. DNR survey details →
Ward Lake is a 82-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Polk County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 43 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, and Walleye. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 54 other monitored lakes in Polk County, Ward Lake ranks #12 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-05-29. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Ward Lake covers about 82 acres in Polk County. It has one public boat landing. If you are planning to stay, you can search lake houses and cabins around Ward Lake on Vrbo, or look for a hotel room near the lake on Booking.com or Expedia.
What Ward Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing3 species recorded
- Deep water43 ft surveyed max depth
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. Ward Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5R) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Ward 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 Ward Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Ward 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 22.4 µg/L. TSI 50.
| 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 | 22.4µg/L | Good 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. | 50 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Ward Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Wisconsin DNR lists Northern Pike as common on Ward Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Ward Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 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 1988. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
Max depth
43 ft
Surface area
82 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
2 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
1.8 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,171 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Ward 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 Ward Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Ward 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 Ward Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Follow Ward Lake’s readings
Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.
Or email
Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Ward 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 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Improving6 years
Phosphorus
Improving-0.76 µg/L/yr6 years
EPA Impairment Status
Ward 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 WI10006733 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Polk County
Frequently asked questions about Ward Lake
Where is Ward Lake?
- Ward 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 Ward Lake?
- Ward Lake in Polk County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 22.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 43 ft. Surface area: 82 acres.
Is Ward Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Ward Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5R) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Ward Lake?
- Ward Lake has a maximum depth of 43 feet. The lake covers 82 acres.
What fish are in Ward Lake?
- Fish species found in Ward Lake include Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Ward Lake is located in Polk County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Ward Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Northern Pike as common on Ward Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Ward Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Ward Lake?
- Ward Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Ward Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Ward Lake?
- Ward Lake has 1 documented boat landing 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 Ward Lake across LakeQuality
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
More lakes in Wisconsin
State Parks Near Ward Lake
Other Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
47 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_WQX47 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
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