Yellowstone Lake
Yellowstone Lake in Lafayette County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 1.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 156 µg/L. Maximum depth: 14 ft. Surface area: 453 acres.
- Clarity
- 1.3 ft
- Typical in August
- 79°F
- Max depth
- 14 ft
- Area
- 453 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Yellowstone Lake →
Next lake in Lafayette County
Yellowstone Lake is a 453-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Lafayette County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 14 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 6 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Lafayette County, Yellowstone Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-03-31. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria C
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.
Based on E. coli testing, Yellowstone Lake occasionally exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 6.1% of 114 samples across 9 seasons.
This is a historical summary of past testing, not a current condition — bacteria levels change quickly, especially after rain. Always check Wisconsin’s current beach and health-department advisories before swimming.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 1.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 156 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 75.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 156 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 75 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Yellowstone Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Yellowstone Lake in Lafayette 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 grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Yellowstone Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Yellowstone Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Yellowstone Lake typically sits around 79°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 79°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 79°F) and coldest in Mar (about 46°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 27 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Yellowstone Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 14 ft |
| Surface Area | 453 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Yellowstone Lake State Park - SouthPublic
- Yellowstone Lake State Park - NorthPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Yellowstone 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. 2 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Yellowstone Lake covering fish populations, stocking, water quality, and management. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- 2023Yellowstone Lake rough fish removal assessment, 2023Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2023 (PDF)
- 2018Yellowstone Lake comprehensive survey 2018Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2018 (PDF)
- 2010Yellowstone Lake muskellunge 2010Musky Survey · WI DNR · 2010 (PDF)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.089 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -13.5 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Yellowstone Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Yellowstone (completed 1953), built primarily for recreation; gravity-type dam, 32 ft tall and 1,370 ft long.
- Surface area
- 455 ac
- Normal storage
- 2,730 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 6,400 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 41.7 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI00071 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Yellowstone 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 WI10009851 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Yellowstone Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Wi Dnr Yellowstone Lake State Park WwtfFayette · 0.8 mi away · NPDES WI0031879
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 #2 of 2 lakes in Lafayette County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Yellowstone Lake holds Grade D. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Lafayette County
Frequently asked questions about Yellowstone Lake
What is the water quality grade for Yellowstone Lake?
- Yellowstone Lake in Lafayette County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 1.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 156 µg/L. Maximum depth: 14 ft. Surface area: 453 acres.
Is Yellowstone Lake safe to swim in?
- Based on E. coli testing, Yellowstone Lake occasionally exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 6.1% of 114 samples across 9 seasons. That works out to a bacteria swim-safety grade of C — a historical summary of past testing, not a current reading. Yellowstone Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Bacteria levels can spike quickly after heavy rain, so always check Wisconsin's current beach and health-department advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Yellowstone Lake?
- Yellowstone Lake typically sits around 79°F at the surface in August, from 27 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Yellowstone Lake?
- Yellowstone Lake has a maximum depth of 14 feet. The lake covers 453 acres.
What fish are in Yellowstone Lake?
- Fish species found in Yellowstone Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Trout, Walleye. Yellowstone Lake is located in Lafayette County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Yellowstone Lake?
- Yellowstone Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Yellowstone Lake State Park - South, Yellowstone Lake State Park - North. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Yellowstone Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Wisconsin
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its grade
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Wisconsin's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Yellowstone Lake
Other Grade D Lakes in Wisconsin
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
58 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2021–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX58 samples · 2021–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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