Culvert on Lake Helen
Portage County, WisconsinView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Culvert on Lake Helen. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Public access
- Limited data
Culvert on Lake Helen in Portage County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Phosphorus: 87.1 µg/L.
Culvert on Lake Helen is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Portage County, Wisconsin. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 13 other monitored lakes in Portage County, Culvert on Lake Helen ranks #14 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2023-04-12. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Culvert on Lake Helen is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Culvert on Lake Helen is safe to swim in today is a call for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Culvert on Lake Helen
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Culvert on Lake Helen, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
No clarity data. Phosphorus 87.1 µg/L. TSI 69.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | No reading How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. | |
| Total phosphorus | 87.1µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | No reading The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. | |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 69 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Culvert on Lake Helen
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Culvert on Lake Helen typically sits around 59°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 79°F) and coldest in Apr (about 57°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (57°F) to its warmest (79°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 137 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Culvert on Lake Helen water temperature breakdown →
Recreation & Access
- Lake Helen County ParkPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Culvert on Lake Helen
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Culvert on Lake Helen in Portage County, Wisconsin — live availability and prices for your trip. Switch the map to Satellite to see the lake and how close each stay is to the water. The water-quality readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Culvert on Lake Helen are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Culvert on Lake Helen
Prices for Oct 16–18, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Fishing Culvert on Lake Helen
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 7 years of monitoring (2020–2026).
Water clarity
Improving7 years
Phosphorus
Improving-0.98 µg/L/yr7 years
Nearby Lakes in Portage County
Frequently asked questions about Culvert on Lake Helen
Where is Culvert on Lake Helen?
- Culvert on Lake Helen is a lake in Portage County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Culvert on Lake Helen?
- Culvert on Lake Helen in Portage County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Phosphorus: 87.1 µg/L.
Is Culvert on Lake Helen safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Culvert on Lake Helen?
- Culvert on Lake Helen typically sits around 59°F at the surface in October, from 137 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
Are there boat ramps on Culvert on Lake Helen?
- Culvert on Lake Helen has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Helen County Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Culvert on Lake Helen?
- Culvert on Lake Helen has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Wisconsin's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Culvert on Lake Helen across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
5 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX5 samples · 2022–2023
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory