Wilson Lake
Russell County, Kansas9,040 acresView mapDirections
Clarity, phosphorus, and algae all sit in the cleanest band for this region.
- Mesotrophic
- #1 of 1 in the county
- Public access
- Limited data
Wilson Lake in Russell County, Kansas has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 8.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.8 µg/L. Surface area: 9040 acres.
- Clarity
- 8.7 ft
- Area
- 9,040 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Phosphorus
- 20 µg/L
- Chlorophyll-a
- 2.8 µg/L
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Wilson Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Wilson Lake in Russell County, Kansas — 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Wilson Lake
Prices for Sep 11–13, 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 trip? Cabins and lodging at Wilson Lake → · more Kansas lake trips
Watch Wilson Lake’s letter
Email me if this lake’s grade moves. Grades stay free.
Or email
Wilson Lake is a 9,040-acre mesotrophic lake in Russell County, Kansas. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2018. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, KDHE, last sampled 2018-08-21. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
What Wilson Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
- Big water9,040 acres
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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.
The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.7 ft. Phosphorus 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 2.8 µg/L. TSI 45. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 20 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.8 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Current Conditions
USGS snapshot Sep 7, 2026, 3:30 PM from gauge 06868100 (WILSON LK NR WILSON, KS). Station page ↗ — a live reading replaces this snapshot when the gauge responds. Missing live data is not an all-clear.
→ Wilson Lake water level: the live USGS gauge reading
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 9,040 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Wilson Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Wilson-State ParkPublic
- Wilson-OtoePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Wilson Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.042 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.83 µg/L/yr | 3 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +0.08 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Wilson Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Wilson Dam (completed 1964), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the Saline River; earth-type dam, 152 ft tall and 5,600 ft long.
- Surface area
- 9,040 ac
- Normal storage
- 245,000 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 736,000 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 1,917 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- USACE - Kansas City District
All listed purposes: Flood Risk Reduction;Irrigation;Fish and Wildlife Pond;Recreation.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID KS00013 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 1 lakes in Russell County
Nearby Lakes in Russell County
Frequently asked questions about Wilson Lake
Where is Wilson Lake?
- Wilson Lake is a lake in Russell County, Kansas. LakeQuality grades it A for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Wilson Lake?
- Wilson Lake in Russell County, Kansas has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Water clarity: 8.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 20 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.8 µg/L. Surface area: 9040 acres.
Is Wilson Lake safe to swim in?
- The A is nutrients and algae, not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water level at Wilson Lake?
- The USGS snapshot on this page for Wilson Lake is 1511.17 ft of water-surface elevation, recorded Sep 7, 2026, 3:30 PM at gauge 06868100. Current Conditions hydrates a live NWIS reading from that same station when the gauge responds. A missed live fetch is not an all-clear.
Are there boat ramps on Wilson Lake?
- Wilson Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Wilson-State Park, Wilson-Otoe. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Wilson Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Kansas's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Kansas's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Kansas Lake Rankings
Other Grade A Lakes in Kansas
Mesotrophic Lakes in Kansas
Where this data comes from
15 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2012–2018. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Kansas Department Of Health And Environment
21KAN001_WQX15 samples · 2012–2018
Analytical methods
- Depth, Secchi disk depth
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory