Waupaca County Lake Quality
Wisconsin, 27 lakes, average grade A (Excellent)
Waupaca County's 27 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's average grade is A — among the cleanest in Wisconsin. 26 lakes pull an A on their own, and almost none fall into the D or F brackets.
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 Long Lake (A); the most-stressed is Pigeon Lake (C).
Quick Answers for Waupaca County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Long 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 | Long Lake | A | 44.3 ft | 76 ft | 12.4 µg/L |
| 2 | Silver Lake | A | 23 ft | 17 ft | 18.5 µg/L |
| 3 | Spencer Lake | A | 27.9 ft | 53 ft | 11.2 µg/L |
| 4 | Round Lake | A | 49.2 ft | 67 ft | - |
| 5 | Bass Lake | A | 34.5 ft | - | - |
| 6 | Bear Lake | A | 36.1 ft | 62 ft | 18 µg/L |
| 7 | Shadow Lake | A | 39.4 ft | 41 ft | 11.9 µg/L |
| 8 | Pope Lake | A | 54.1 ft | 40 ft | 15.6 µg/L |
| 9 | Beasley Lake | A | 65.6 ft | 47 ft | 15.1 µg/L |
| 10 | North Lake | A | 41 ft | 33 ft | 15.8 µg/L |
| 11 | Otter Lake | A | 49.2 ft | 40 ft | 17.8 µg/L |
| 12 | Marl Lake | A | 45.9 ft | 59 ft | 9.9 µg/L |
| 13 | Columbia Lake | A | 35.3 ft | 72 ft | 12.2 µg/L |
| 14 | Mirror Lake | A | 36.1 ft | 43 ft | 14.6 µg/L |
| 15 | Stratton Lake | A | 45.9 ft | 42 ft | 13.9 µg/L |
| 16 | Mccrossen Lake | A | 33.8 ft | 75 ft | - |
| 17 | Taylor Lake | A | 32.8 ft | 58 ft | 12.3 µg/L |
| 18 | Grenlie Lake | A | 49.2 ft | 40 ft | - |
| 19 | Old Taylor Lake | A | 17.4 ft | 17 ft | - |
| 20 | Hatch Lake | A | 27.6 ft | - | 19.2 µg/L |
| 21 | Iola Lake | A | 32.8 ft | - | 16.4 µg/L |
| 22 | Nutrient Sampling Point Lake | A | 47.6 ft | 33 ft | 16.9 µg/L |
| 23 | Brekke Lake | A | - | 25 ft | 11 µg/L |
| 24 | White Lake | A | 18.9 ft | 10 ft | 22 µg/L |
| 25 | School Section Lake | A | 20.1 ft | 38 ft | 23.9 µg/L |
| 26 | Youngs Lake Waupaca Co | A | 33.6 ft | - | 22.3 µg/L |
| 27 | Pigeon Lake | C | 7.8 ft | 10 ft | 73.1 µg/L |
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.