Columbia County Lake Quality
Wisconsin, 18 lakes, measured by Wisconsin DNR
The county-level average smooths over real differences — a single agricultural watershed near the southwest corner can pull the average down even if the rest of the county runs clean. 5 of those lakes carry recent nutrient and algae readings. The county-level summary describes that subset, not every water body listed. Phosphorus and algae readings vary widely across Columbia County; the per-lake pages below carry the numbers.
Most of the county's monitored lakes are shallow, under 50 feet, which means wind keeps the water column mixed all summer and sediment-bound phosphorus releases back into the surface layer whenever the bottom is disturbed. Silver Lake has the lowest nutrient and algae readings in the county.
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Quick Answers for Columbia County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Silver Lake, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or browse the full Wisconsin regulations index.
Fishing in Columbia County
DNR Reports (12)
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries Survey resources for lakes in Columbia County. browse all reports →
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- 2025Lake Wisconsin fall shocking survey, 2025Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2025 (PDF)
- 2024Lazy Lake comprehensive fisheries survey, 2024Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2024 (PDF)
- 2023Lake Wisconsin comprehensive fisheries survey, 2023Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2023 (PDF)
- 2023Lake Wisconsin/Wisconsin River creel survey, 2023Creel Survey · WI DNR · 2023 (PDF)
- 2021Baraboo River hoop net survey, 2021Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2021 (PDF)
- 2021Comprehensive fishery survey of Park Lake, 2021Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2021 (PDF)
- 2018Swan and Spring lakes comprehensive survey 2018Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2018 (PDF)
- 2017Lake Wisconsin comprehensive survey 2017Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2017 (PDF)
- 2013Lake Wisconsin/Lower Wisconsin River lake sturgeon 2013Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2013 (PDF)
- 2012Lake Wisconsin comprehensive survey 2012Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2012 (PDF)
- 2011Park Lake comprehensive survey 2011Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2011 (PDF)
- 2011Spring Lake comprehensive survey 2011Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2011 (PDF)
All Lakes in Columbia County
18 lakes · 5 ranked on readings, 13 without enough sampling5 lakes ranked on readings · 13 without enough sampling, hidden
| # | Lake | Clarity | Phosphorus | Algae | Trophic | Max Depth | Access |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Silver LakeColumbia | 8.8 ft | 23.2 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 42 ft | ✓ Public |
| 2 | LakeColumbia | 2.5 ft | 92.9 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 24 ft | ✓ Public |
| 3 | Spring LakeColumbia | 2 ft | 83.3 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 32 ft | ✓ Public |
| 4 | Lazy LakeColumbia | 4 ft | 269 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 8 ft | ✓ Public |
| 5 | Wyona LakeColumbia | No recent samples | 86.1 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | 12 ft | ✓ Public |
| Swan LakeColumbia | 4.8 ft | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 82 ft | ✓ Public | |
| Park LakeColumbia | No recent samples | 82.4 µg/L | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | ✓ Public | |
| Dates MillpondColumbia | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 6 ft | Not recorded | |
| Weeting LakeColumbia | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 4 ft | Not recorded | |
| Corning LakeColumbia | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 4 ft | Not recorded | |
| Pickerel LakeColumbia | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 5 ft | Not recorded | |
| Lake ColumbiaColumbia | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 8 ft | Not recorded | |
| Lake GeorgeColumbia | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 22 ft | ✓ Public | |
| Curtis LakeColumbia | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 7 ft | Not recorded | |
| Park LakeColumbia | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 27 ft | ✓ Public | |
| Crystal LakeColumbia | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | 12 ft | Not recorded | |
| Grassy LakeColumbia | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | ✓ Public | |
| Mud LakeColumbia | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | No recent samples | ✓ Public |
NR = no nutrient or algae reading on record. The measurements are published as the authority reports them. Where the data comes from.
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Source: the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. See data sources.