Field Notes

August 4, 2020

Water temperature in 14 Kosciusko County lakes

Water temperature makes a big difference in a lake. By taking the lake’s temperature during sampling, we get important context for lake characteristics like dissolved oxygen and water density. Water temperature also impacts what lives (fish and other organisms) and grows (algae, aquatic plants and weeds) in the lake.

Here are the current surface and bottom layer temperatures (measured at the deepest point) of the 14 lakes sampled by the Lilly Center research team. Keep in mind that weather conditions have an impact on the surface water temperature! These measurements were taken during the week of July 27, 2020, and the air temperature was around 80 degrees.

LAKETOP (℉)BOTTOM (℉)
Wawasee8154
Syracuse8361
Dewart8252
Webster8245
Tippecanoe8743
James8147
Oswego8246
Winona8348
Center8249
Pike8254
Yellow Creek8545
Beaver Dam8648
Big Chapman8355
Big Barbee8352