Ward Lake
Ward Lake in Polk County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). 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 →
- Clarity
- 6 ft
- Max depth
- 43 ft
- Area
- 82 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Ward Lake is a 82-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Polk County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 43 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 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. 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)
Murky, only visible to about 6 ft. Phosphorus level: 22.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 50.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 22.4 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 50 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay 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.
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Wisconsin DNR lists Northern Pike as common on Ward Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Ward Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 43 ft |
| Surface Area | 82 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
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
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded 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 data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.164 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.76 µg/L/yr | 6 |
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
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10006733 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #12 of 55 lakes in Polk County
Nearby Lakes in Polk County
Frequently asked questions about Ward Lake
Where is Ward Lake?
- Ward Lake is a lake in Polk County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Ward Lake?
- Ward Lake in Polk County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). 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?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Ward Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
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 a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Ward Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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.
Explore Ward Lake across LakeQuality
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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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)
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