White Ash Lake
Polk County, Wisconsin147 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for White Ash Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- 2 aquatic invasives
- 9 ft max depth
- Public access
White Ash Lake in Polk County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 68.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 9 ft. Surface area: 147 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on White Ash Lake. DNR survey details →
White Ash Lake is a 147-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Polk County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 9 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 54 other monitored lakes in Polk County, White Ash Lake ranks #45 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-07-07. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
White Ash Lake covers about 150 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. For a place on the water, look through cabin and lake-house rentals near White Ash Lake on Vrbo. For a hotel or motel room, Booking.com and Expedia both search around the lake.
What White Ash Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
- Fishing3 species recorded
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. White Ash Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5R) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether White Ash 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 White Ash Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for White Ash Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Very murky, less than 2.5 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 68.8 µg/L. TSI 65.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 2.5ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 68.8µg/L | Poor 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. | 65 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about White Ash Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
White Ash Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 78°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 80°F) and coldest in Sep (about 72°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (72°F) to its warmest (80°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 12 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full White Ash Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on White Ash Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows White Ash Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is declining. 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 1993. 2 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
Max depth
9 ft
Surface area
147 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
108 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
2.3 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,109 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- White Ash Lake - NorthPublic
- White Ash Lake - SouthPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near White Ash Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near White Ash 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. The water-quality readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around White Ash Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near White Ash 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 White Ash 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 White Ash 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: Worsening
Based on 7 years of monitoring (2020–2026).
Water clarity
Worsening7 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+2.44 µg/L/yr7 years
EPA Impairment Status
White Ash 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 WI10005041 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Polk County
Frequently asked questions about White Ash Lake
Where is White Ash Lake?
- White Ash 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 White Ash Lake?
- White Ash Lake in Polk County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 68.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 9 ft. Surface area: 147 acres.
Is White Ash Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. White Ash 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 White Ash Lake?
- White Ash Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in September, from 12 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is White Ash Lake?
- White Ash Lake has a maximum depth of 9 feet. The lake covers 147 acres.
What fish are in White Ash Lake?
- Fish species found in White Ash Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. White Ash Lake is located in Polk County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at White Ash Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on White Ash Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows White Ash Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on White Ash Lake?
- White Ash Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include White Ash Lake - North, White Ash Lake - South. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at White Ash Lake?
- White Ash 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 White Ash 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 White Ash Lake
Other Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
39 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX39 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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