Skip to main content
LakeQuality
D

Wind Lake

Racine County, WisconsinEutrophic

On the scoring rubric Wind Lake grades a D: clarity at 8.5 ft and 183 µg/L of phosphorus keep it in the lower bracket for Racine County. High phosphorus is the leading drag on the score — likely from upland agriculture, lawn runoff, or in-lake sediment release.

Eutrophic conditions are the baseline here: clarity drops noticeably in late summer, and dissolved oxygen near the bottom can become a concern. Wind Lake reaches 47 ft at its deepest point — typical for Wisconsin mid-sized lakes, with seasonal stratification but limited cold-water refuge. Wind Lake covers 919 acres alongside partial shoreline records — a mid-sized water that supports a working fishery without being so large that conditions diverge between basins. Within Racine County's 7 graded lakes, Wind Lake ranks 5 — below the local median, though not at the bottom.

Wind Lake is on the Wisconsin infested-waters list for zebra mussels — boaters should follow clean-drain-dry protocols when moving gear to or from the lake. The fishery includes walleye alongside the lake's other 6 documented species — a notable draw for Wisconsin anglers. Public access is available — the lake is on the Wisconsin DNR public-access list. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2023-08-02. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

Swimming Safety

Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk

Water Quality Grade: D, Poor

Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 183 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 63.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)8.5 ftC
Phosphorus183 µg/LF
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)No data
Trophic State Index (TSI)63Eutrophic

High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity

Lake Details

CharacteristicValue
Maximum Depth47 ft
Surface Area919 acres
Public AccessYes

Fish Species

Click a species to see all Wisconsin and Minnesota lakes where it is found.

→ Best fishing times for Wind Lake (14-day solunar calendar)

→ Is it safe to eat fish from Wind Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)

Wind Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)

Invasive Species

Chinese Mystery SnailCurly-Leaf PondweedEurasian Water-MilfoilPurple LoosestrifeZebra MusselStarry Stonewort

Water Quality Trend: Improving

Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).

MetricTrendChange/YearYears
Water Clarity Improving+1.248 m/yr7
Phosphorus Improving-13.69 µg/L/yr6
See year-by-year chart →

Recreation & Access

2
Boat Landings
Yes
Public Access

Location

Loading map…

County Ranking

Ranked #5 of 7 lakes in Racine County

Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles

Wind Lake holds Grade D. 2 nearby lakes hold higher grades.

See full comparison →

Nearby Lakes in Racine County

WI DNR Lake Profile

Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. 13 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).

DNR Assessment
Good · Deep Lowland lake
Trophic State Index 48 (mesotrophic) · 5-year average

Fish Species (DNR-rated)

Panfish(Common)Largemouth Bass(Common)Northern Pike(Common)Walleye(Common)Smallmouth Bass(Present)Catfish(Present)

Data Sources

Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal

Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards

Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes

Most recent sample: 2023-08-02

Monitoring stations: 1