Wind Lake
Wind Lake in Polk County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 10 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17.2 µg/L. Surface area: 39 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Wind Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 10 ft
- Area
- 39 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Wind Lake is a 39-acre mesotrophic lake in Polk County, Wisconsin. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 54 other monitored lakes in Polk County, Wind Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-09-01. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Good clarity, visible to about 10 ft. Phosphorus level: 17.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 45.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 17.2 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Wind Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Wind 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Wind Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Wind Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Wind Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. 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 1986. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 39 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
The available depth estimate for Wind Lake is shallower than its measured water clarity, which cannot be right, so no depth is shown.
Recreation & Access
- Big LakePublic
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 Wind 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: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.014 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.63 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Wind 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 WI10004943 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.49 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 55 lakes in Polk County
Nearby Lakes in Polk County
Frequently asked questions about Wind Lake
Where is Wind Lake?
- Wind Lake is a lake in Polk County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Wind Lake?
- Wind Lake in Polk County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 10 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17.2 µg/L. Surface area: 39 acres.
Is Wind Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Wind Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Wind Lake?
- The available depth estimate for Wind Lake is shallower than its measured water clarity, which cannot be right, so no depth is shown. The lake covers 39 acres.
What fish are in Wind Lake?
- Fish species found in Wind Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Wind Lake is located in Polk County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Wind Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Wind Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Wind Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Wind Lake?
- Wind Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Big Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Wind Lake across LakeQuality
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Other Grade B Lakes in Wisconsin
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Where this data comes from
62 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX62 samples · 2020–2025
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