Where is Wilson Flowage Lake?

Wilson Flowage Lake is a lake in Price County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.

What is the water temperature of Wilson Flowage Lake?

Wilson Flowage Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in October, from 12 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.

How deep is Wilson Flowage Lake?

Wilson Flowage Lake has a maximum depth of 11 feet. The lake covers 348 acres.

Can I fish at Wilson Flowage Lake?

Public access to Wilson Flowage Lake is listed as yes on the lake record. 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.

Wilson Flowage Lake

Price County, Wisconsin348 acresView map Directions

Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Wilson Flowage Lake. Here is what has been measured.

Clarity

2.5 ft

Murkier than most

Secchi · sampled 2024

Phosphorus

52.6 µg/L

More phosphorus than most

Measured by Wisconsin DNR

Water temp

~65°F

Typical for Oct · EPA WQP

Max depth

11 ft

Bathymetric survey

Area

348 acres

Surface area

Type

Eutrophic

Trophic class

Eutrophic
Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
Rusty Crayfish
11 ft max depth
Public access
Limited data

See the measurements Directions Where to stay

Wilson Flowage Lake in Price County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 52.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 11 ft. Surface area: 348 acres.

Wisconsin DNR rates Walleye as abundant on Wilson Flowage Lake. DNR survey details →

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Wilson Flowage Lake is a 348-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Price County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 11 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available. Compared to the 12 other monitored lakes in Price County, Wilson Flowage Lake ranks #12 for water quality.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2024-10-01. Methodology: how these readings are compared.

What Wilson Flowage Lake is good for

From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.

Fishing5 species recorded

Swimming conditions

Readings only

Recreation 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. Wilson Flowage Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.

Whether Wilson Flowage 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.

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Water quality measurements for Wilson Flowage Lake

These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Wilson Flowage 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 52.6 µg/L. TSI 63.

Water quality readings
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	52.6µg/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.	63	Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic

High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity

Ask about Wilson Flowage Lake

Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.

Water Temperature

Wilson Flowage Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 72°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 72°F) and coldest in May (about 64°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

64°

May

Jun

72°

Jul

72°

Aug

Sep

65°

Oct

Nov

Dec

Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (64°F) to its warmest (72°F).

Typical surface water temperature by month, from 12 field readings (2024–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Wilson Flowage Lake water temperature breakdown →

DNR fisheries survey

Wisconsin DNR rates Walleye as abundant on Wilson Flowage Lake.

A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Wilson Flowage Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 3 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. 3 stations on file (most recent sample 2024).

Fish Species (DNR-rated)

Walleye(Abundant)Musky(Common)Panfish(Present)Largemouth Bass(Present)Northern Pike(Present)

Contour map (PDF) →Full WI DNR LakePage →Water quality stations →

Lake Details

Max depth

11 ft

Surface area

348 acres

Public access

Yes

Listed by Wisconsin DNR

Stays via Stay22

Stays near Wilson Flowage Lake

Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Wilson Flowage Lake in Price 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 Wilson Flowage Lake are listed below.

Top-rated places to stay near Wilson Flowage Lake

Prices for Oct 16–18, 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.

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Follow Wilson Flowage Lake’s readings

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Fish Species

Musky Panfish Largemouth Bass Northern Pike Walleye

Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.

Fishing Wilson Flowage 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.

Banded Mystery SnailEurasian Water-MilfoilRusty Crayfish

Water quality readings over time

3 seasons of samples on record (2022–2024). Calling a direction takes at least 4 years of the same measurement.

Water clarity
Worsening
3 years

Reservoir Info (USACE NID)

Wilson Flowage Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Jobes (completed 1934), built primarily for recreation on the ELK; gravity-type dam, 16 ft tall and 285 ft long.

Surface area: 1,237 ac
Normal storage: 6,200 ac-ft
Max storage: 8,000 ac-ft
Drainage area: 216 sq mi
Hazard class: High
Owner: Price County

Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI00179 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.97 km)

EPA Impairment Status

Wilson Flowage Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).

Causes of impairment

Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)

Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life, Recreation.

Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10003538 · Official waterbody report

Nearby Lakes in Price County

Long Lake—View →Grassy Lake—View →Elk Lake—View →Lake Ten8.7 ft clear—View →Deer Lake—View →McIlquham Lake—View →

Frequently asked questions about Wilson Flowage Lake

Where is Wilson Flowage Lake?: Wilson Flowage Lake is a lake in Price County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Wilson Flowage Lake?: Wilson Flowage Lake in Price County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 52.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 11 ft. Surface area: 348 acres.
Is Wilson Flowage Lake safe to swim in?: Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Wilson Flowage Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Wilson Flowage Lake?: Wilson Flowage Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in October, from 12 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Wilson Flowage Lake?: Wilson Flowage Lake has a maximum depth of 11 feet. The lake covers 348 acres.
What fish are in Wilson Flowage Lake?: Fish species found in Wilson Flowage Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Wilson Flowage Lake is located in Price County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Wilson Flowage Lake?: Wisconsin DNR rates Walleye as abundant on Wilson Flowage Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Wilson Flowage Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 3 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Can I fish at Wilson Flowage Lake?: Public access to Wilson Flowage Lake is listed as yes on the lake record. 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.

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Where this data comes from

23 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2024. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.

Collected and reported by

Wisconsin Department of Natural ResourcesWIDNR_WQX23 samples · 2020–2024

Analytical methods

Phosphorus by Colorimetry

Monitoring station identifiers (1)

WIDNR_WQX-513137

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

Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes