White Mound Lake
White Mound Lake in Sauk County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 16 ft. Surface area: 93 acres.
- Clarity
- 5.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Max depth
- 16 ft
- Area
- 93 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Sauk County
White Mound Lake is a 93-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Sauk County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 16 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 6 other monitored lakes in Sauk County, White Mound Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-23. Grade methodology: LakeGrade 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 5.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 30.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 53.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 30.1 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 53 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near White Mound Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near White Mound Lake in Sauk 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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Water Temperature
White Mound Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 76°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 81°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 29 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full White Mound Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 16 ft |
| Surface Area | 93 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Whitemound County ParkPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing White Mound 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.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 1980. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2026).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.25 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.52 µg/L/yr | 7 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
White Mound Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Plain Honey Creek 3 (completed 1970), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the Shannahan Branch, Honey Creek; earth-type dam, 45 ft tall and 1,070 ft long.
- Surface area
- 104 ac
- Normal storage
- 1,220 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 2,850 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 7 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Sauk County
All listed purposes: Flood Risk Reduction;Recreation;Debris Control.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI00392 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
White Mound Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10002687 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of White Mound Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Hill Point Sanitary District WwtfWashington · 4.2 mi away · NPDES WI0035483Recent violation
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 7 lakes in Sauk County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
White Mound Lake holds Grade C. 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 Sauk County
Frequently asked questions about White Mound Lake
What is the water quality grade for White Mound Lake?
- White Mound Lake in Sauk County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 30.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 16 ft. Surface area: 93 acres.
Is White Mound Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. White Mound Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of White Mound Lake?
- White Mound Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, from 29 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is White Mound Lake?
- White Mound Lake has a maximum depth of 16 feet. The lake covers 93 acres.
What fish are in White Mound Lake?
- Fish species found in White Mound Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. White Mound Lake is located in Sauk County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on White Mound Lake?
- White Mound Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Whitemound County Park. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
94 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_WQX94 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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
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