Waushara County Lake Quality
Wisconsin, 28 lakes, average grade B (Good)
Waushara County's 28 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. With an average grade of B, Waushara County sits comfortably above the Wisconsin median.
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 Pearl Lake (A); the most-stressed is Long Lake Plainfield (D).
Quick Answers for Waushara County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Pearl Lake, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or browse the full Wisconsin regulations index.
DNR Reports (11)
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries Survey resources for lakes in Waushara County. browse all reports →
- 2023Big Twin Lake spring shocking survey, 2023Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2023 (PDF)
- 2023Bughs Lake spring shocking survey, 2023Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2023 (PDF)
- 2023Fish Lake comprehensive summary survey, 2023Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2023 (PDF)
- 2023Marl Lake spring shocking survey, 2023Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2023 (PDF)
- 2022Lower White River Flowage shocking survey, 2022Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2022 (PDF)
- 2022Spring Lake spring shocking survey, 2022Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2022 (PDF)
- 2022West Branch Millpond shocking survey, 2022Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2022 (PDF)
- 2021Irogami Lake spring shocking survey, 2021Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2021 (PDF)
- 2021Kusel Lake spring shocking survey, 2021Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2021 (PDF)
- 2021Pearl Lake comprehensive summary survey, 2021Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2021 (PDF)
- 2021Porters Lake spring shocking survey, 2021Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2021 (PDF)
All Lakes in Waushara County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Max Depth | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pearl Lake | A | 19 ft | 45 ft | 10.4 µg/L |
| 2 | Fish Lake | A | - | 37 ft | 10.5 µg/L |
| 3 | Unnamed Lake | A | - | - | 9 µg/L |
| 4 | Cedar Springs Lake | A | - | - | 12 µg/L |
| 5 | Silver Lake | A | 14.5 ft | 56 ft | 14.7 µg/L |
| 6 | Silver Lake | A | 10.2 ft | 50 ft | 14.9 µg/L |
| 7 | Kusel Lake | A | 11.5 ft | 29 ft | 16.2 µg/L |
| 8 | Marl Lake | A | 12.2 ft | 35 ft | 15.6 µg/L |
| 9 | Long Lake | A | 14.5 ft | 71 ft | 11.6 µg/L |
| 10 | Pleasant Lake | A | 11.5 ft | 24 ft | 11.8 µg/L |
| 11 | Lake Morris | A | 11 ft | 40 ft | 18.1 µg/L |
| 12 | Little Hills Lake | A | 14 ft | 20 ft | 11.4 µg/L |
| 13 | Gilbert Lake | A | 12 ft | 65 ft | 11.8 µg/L |
| 14 | Porters Lake | A | 11 ft | 16 ft | 11.9 µg/L |
| 15 | Pine Lake | A | 10.2 ft | 48 ft | 16.5 µg/L |
| 16 | Round Lake | B | 12.5 ft | 19 ft | - |
| 17 | Bughs Lake | B | 12 ft | 18 ft | - |
| 18 | Spring Lake | B | 10.2 ft | 37 ft | - |
| 19 | White River Flowage Lake | B | 9.3 ft | 20 ft | 17.9 µg/L |
| 20 | John'S Lake | B | 12.5 ft | 41 ft | - |
| 21 | Big Twin Lake | B | - | 13 ft | 28 µg/L |
| 22 | Big Hills Lake | B | 8.1 ft | - | 16.8 µg/L |
| 23 | Alpine Lake | B | - | 18 ft | 22.9 µg/L |
| 24 | Wilson Lake | C | 6.2 ft | 12 ft | 20.8 µg/L |
| 25 | Plainfield Lake | C | 6.8 ft | 12 ft | - |
| 26 | White River Pond | C | 9.6 ft | 29 ft | - |
| 27 | Long Lake Plainfield | D | 5.2 ft | 14 ft | - |
| 28 | Irogami Lake | D | 4 ft | 5 ft | - |
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.