Waupaca County Lake Quality
Wisconsin, 25 lakes, average grade B (Good)
Waupaca County's 25 graded lakes fall in the moderate-density bracket for Wisconsin. 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. The county-wide average lands at B — solid water quality with most lakes carrying clear summer transparency and low-to-moderate phosphorus.
The county's lakes lean shallow, which makes the grades sensitive to wind, sediment-resuspension, and any nutrient inputs from the watershed. The cleanest lake on the books is Round Lake (A); the most-stressed is Pigeon Lake (D).
Quick Answers for Waupaca County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Round Lake, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or browse the full Wisconsin regulations index.
DNR Reports (15)
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries Survey resources for lakes in Waupaca County. Showing 12 most recent — browse all reports →
- 2025Pigeon Lake comprehensive summary survey, 2025Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2025 (PDF)
- 2025Weyauwega Lake comprehensive summary survey, 2025Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2025 (PDF)
- 2022Cedar Lake spring shocking survey, 2022Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2022 (PDF)
- 2022Hatch Lake summary report, 2022Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2022 (PDF)
- 2022Kinney Lake spring shocking survey, 2022Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2022 (PDF)
- 2022Marion Millpond comprehensive survey, 2022Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2022 (PDF)
- 2022Pigeon Lake spring shocking survey, 2022Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2022 (PDF)
- 2021Bear Lake comprehensive survey, 2021Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2021 (PDF)
- 2021Brekkee Lake comprehensive survey, 2021Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2021 (PDF)
- 2021Graham Lake shocking survey, 2021Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2021 (PDF)
- 2021Pigeon Lake shocking survey, 2021Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2021 (PDF)
- 2021School Section Lake comprehensive survey, 2021Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2021 (PDF)
All Lakes in Waupaca County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Max Depth | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Round Lake | A | 17.5 ft | 67 ft | - |
| 2 | Beasley Lake | A | 18.4 ft | 47 ft | 15.1 µg/L |
| 3 | Pope Lake | A | 16 ft | 40 ft | 15.6 µg/L |
| 4 | Brekke Lake | A | - | 25 ft | 11 µg/L |
| 5 | Mirror Lake | A | 13 ft | 43 ft | 14.6 µg/L |
| 6 | Marl Lake | A | 13.6 ft | 59 ft | 9.9 µg/L |
| 7 | Bear Lake | A | 11 ft | 62 ft | 18 µg/L |
| 8 | Long Lake | A | 13 ft | 76 ft | 12.4 µg/L |
| 9 | North Lake | A | 12.5 ft | 33 ft | 15.8 µg/L |
| 10 | Shadow Lake | A | 12 ft | 41 ft | 11.9 µg/L |
| 11 | Stratton Lake | A | 13 ft | 42 ft | 13.9 µg/L |
| 12 | Columbia Lake | A | 11 ft | 72 ft | 12.2 µg/L |
| 13 | Iola Lake | A | 10 ft | 9 ft | 16.4 µg/L |
| 14 | Nutrient Sampling Point Lake | A | 14.5 ft | 33 ft | 16.9 µg/L |
| 15 | Taylor Lake | A | 10 ft | 58 ft | 12.3 µg/L |
| 16 | Silver Lake | B | 7 ft | 17 ft | 18.5 µg/L |
| 17 | Bass Lake | B | 10.5 ft | - | - |
| 18 | Spencer Lake | B | 8.5 ft | 53 ft | 11.2 µg/L |
| 19 | Hatch Lake | B | 8.4 ft | 12 ft | 19.2 µg/L |
| 20 | Youngs Lake Waupaca Co | B | 10.2 ft | 15 ft | 22.3 µg/L |
| 21 | Otter Lake | B | 8 ft | 40 ft | 17.8 µg/L |
| 22 | White Lake | C | 5.6 ft | 10 ft | 22 µg/L |
| 23 | School Section Lake | C | 6.5 ft | 38 ft | 23.9 µg/L |
| 24 | Old Taylor Lake | D | 5 ft | 17 ft | - |
| 25 | Pigeon Lake | D | 2.4 ft | 10 ft | 73.1 µg/L |
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.