White Ash Lake
White Ash Lake in Polk County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). 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 →
- Clarity
- 2.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Max depth
- 9 ft
- Area
- 147 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near White Ash Lake →
Next lake in Polk County
Swipe left or right on this bar to open the next or previous lake.
White Ash Lake is a 147-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Polk County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 9 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2026. 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. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Watch White Ash Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyElevated nutrients
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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 2.5 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 68.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 65.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 68.8 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 65 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay 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 grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around White Ash Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near White Ash Lake
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 →
Water Temperature
White Ash Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. 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.
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 a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades White Ash Lake D from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 9 ft |
| Surface Area | 147 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
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
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded 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: ↓ Declining
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.443 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +2.44 µg/L/yr | 7 |
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
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10005041 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #45 of 55 lakes in Polk County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
White Ash Lake holds Grade D. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →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. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for White Ash Lake?
- White Ash Lake in Polk County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). 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?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. White Ash Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of White Ash Lake?
- White Ash Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, 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 a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades White Ash Lake D from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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.
Explore White Ash Lake across LakeQuality
Fish species and top-graded 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 grade
Lakes in the St. Croix Watershed, ranked by water quality
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Wisconsin's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
State Parks Near White Ash Lake
Other Grade D 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)
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