by WisCartography

Lake Keesus

About this Map

What’s most striking to me about Lake Keesus is its bays. The lake has a distinctive branching shape, with five named bays extending from its main body: North Bay, Marshall’s Bay, Rice’s Bay, Bull’s Bay, and Marquardt’s Bay. With some help from folks involved with the Lake Keesus Advancement Association (LKAA), I was able to identify and label all five on my map.

Located near Merton in Waukesha County, Lake Keesus covers approximately 237 acres and reaches a maximum depth of about 42 feet. Detailed bathymetric contours show the deeper central and eastern portions of the lake as well as the broad shallows extending into several of those protected bays. The combination of deep water, shallow bays, points, and narrow passages gives the lake an especially interesting shape both above and below the waterline.

Camp Whitcomb/Mason, operated by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee, occupies a prominent stretch of the northwestern shoreline and is included on the map along with surrounding roads, homes, shoreline development, the public boat ramp, and other local features.

Lake Keesus also supports a varied fishery that includes Northern Pike, Largemouth Bass, Walleye, Crappie, Bluegill, and other species, several of which are illustrated on the map.

I think this map turned out particularly well. Between all those bays, the varied bathymetry, and the detail around the shoreline, there’s quite a bit to explore. It’s simply a fun map to look at, and I think it looks especially good framed up and hanging on a wall.