Skip to main content
LakeQuality

Pine Lake reads lower on nutrients and algae than Pewaukee Lake. Both are in Waukesha County, Wisconsin.

Reviewed by LakeQuality Editorial Team · Updated

Both Pewaukee Lake and Pine Lake sit in Wisconsin. A same-state comparison strips out the state-level water-quality regime as a variable: any differences in the readings here are about the lakes themselves, not the agencies sampling them. The readings are close: Pewaukee Lake and Pine Lake sit within a narrow band of each other on phosphorus, chlorophyll-a and clarity. The per-parameter table below shows where the small differences actually live.

With readings this close, the choice between the two lakes turns on non-water-quality factors: depth, fish species, public access, distance from home. The per-lake pages below cover all of those.

Pewaukee Lake

Waukesha County, Wisconsin

Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.5 ft.

Pine Lake

Waukesha County, Wisconsin

Crystal clear, you can see 25 ft down.

Side-by-Side Metrics

MetricPewaukee LakePine Lake
Water Clarity7.5 ft25 ft Better
Phosphorus19.9 µg/L12.2 µg/L Better
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)No dataNo data
Maximum Depth45 ft85 ft Better
Surface Area2,437 acres711 acres
Public AccessYesYes
Fish Species55
Trophic Statemesotrophicoligotrophic

A green ✓ marks the better value for that metric (lower phosphorus / chlorophyll = cleaner; higher Secchi / depth / species count = better). Surface area and trophic state carry no tick — a bigger lake is not a better lake.

Swap a lake

Compare Pewaukee Lake or Pine Lake against a different lake.

Verdict

Pewaukee Lake and Pine Lake read the same on nutrients and algae overall. The tiebreakers come down to clarity (Pewaukee Lake: 7.5 ft, Pine Lake: 25 ft) and what you want from the lake. Pewaukee Lake matches its peer on species count.

Stays via Stay22

Where to stay near Pewaukee Lake and Pine Lake

Compare cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals around Pewaukee Lake and Pine Lake. Both lakes are pinned on the map, so you can see which stays sit nearer the one you pick. Switch to Satellite to see how close each is to the water.

Top-rated places to stay near Pewaukee Lake and Pine Lake

Prices for Nov 6–8, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.

Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.

Planning a trip to Pewaukee Lake and Pine Lake?

Get lake water-quality updates plus the best cabin & lodging deals near Pewaukee Lake and Pine Lake — straight to your inbox. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.

Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.