Helen Lake

On the LakeGrade scale Helen Lake grades a B, with clarity at 11.3 ft and 55 µg/L of phosphorus placing it above the Wisconsin median. Clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.

A TSI in the eutrophic range signals a lake doing what nutrient-loaded waters do — supporting an active algal community at the cost of clear water. The lake bottoms out at 28 ft — a moderate depth that supports a warm-water fishery without the year-round cold refuge a deeper basin provides. At 16 acres, Helen Lake sits below the Wisconsin median: a small water where shoreline activity has an outsized effect on water quality. Helen Lake sits at rank 4 of 6 in Iowa County, in the lower half of the local distribution.

Eurasian watermilfoil is established at Helen Lake, which can dampen recreational access and pressure the native plant community. The fishery includes walleye alongside the lake's other 4 documented species — a notable draw for Wisconsin anglers. A documented public access point at Helen Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.