Wisconsin Lake Organizations
Extension Lakes
Below is an interactive map depicting the lake associations and districts in the state of Wisconsin from 1894 until present day. Each point features information on the lake organization, including the name, type, waterbody ID code (WBIC), location, and a link associated with the Extension Lakes Statewide Lake List Directory.
You will notice each dot represents an individual lake organization, with red points representing lake associations and yellow points representing the lake districts.
Scroll down to explore the map...
1890's
The first lake associations developed in the 1890's. You will notice two small red dots in Walworth County in southeastern Wisconsin. Click on these dots to learn more about the very first lake associations in Wisconsin. If you click on the Lake List Link, a new browser tab will open displaying the organization in the Lake List Directory.
Continue scrolling...
1910s-1920s
You will see additional dots appear during the 1910's and 1920's, Click on the legend icon in the lower left corner to view the legend.
1930s- 1940s
More and more lake associations continue to form during the 30's and 40's.
1950s-1960s
Notice a cluster of dots in the upper right corner of the map (in the upper corner of Oneida County). To explore these more, click on the + sign in the lower right corner to zoom in. You can drag the map around with your mouse if needed. This cluster of dots represents 21 lakes that are part of the Three Lakes Waterfront Association. Click on the Lake List link and scroll down to see a list of all the Associated Lakes.
To return to the original statewide map, click the "home" icon in the lower right corner.
Continue scrolling to explore the 1970's.
1970s
You will notice an explosion of yellow dots on this map. These are the first official lake districts, which were developed due to legislature change permitting lakes to have their own form of governmental units to manage a lake.
Districts prior to 1974 were sanitary districts; some became lake districts with new legislature that permitted lakes to form a district. (Chapter 33)
Learn more about Chapter 33 at Wisconsin Legislature: Chapter 33
1980s
New lake districts continue to form and some lake associations become districts.
1990s
The presence of lake associations keeps growing in northern Wisconsin in the 1990's.
2000s
Lake associations in the north woods of Wisconsin continue to grow exponentially, while more lake districts pop up in southeastern Wisconsin.
2010s
It seems the boom to create Lake Districts is slowing down, although some continue to form.
2020 - Present
Today, Wisconsin has over 500 lake associations and 250 lake districts in the state. The map shows us the counties that are "lake rich" and those counties that have a small number of the lakes.
Thank you to the thousands of individuals who work tirelessly to care for our public lakes. Visit the Extension Lakes Homepage to learn more.