Lake Helen
Portage County, Wisconsin89 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Lake Helen. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Zebra Mussel
- 20 ft max depth
- Public access
Lake Helen in Portage County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 19.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 20 ft. Surface area: 89 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Lake Helen. DNR survey details →
Lake Helen is a 89-acre mesotrophic lake in Portage County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 20 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available. Compared to the 13 other monitored lakes in Portage County, Lake Helen ranks #7 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-07-13. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Lake Helen is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Fishing3 species recorded
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLow algae
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 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 Lake Helen
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Lake Helen, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8 ft. Phosphorus 19.2 µg/L. TSI 47.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 8ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 19.2µg/L | Good 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. | 47 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Lake Helen
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Lake Helen.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Lake Helen’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 1997. 7 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
Max depth
20 ft
Surface area
89 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
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Stays near Lake Helen
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lake Helen
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
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 Lake Helen
Where is Lake Helen?
- 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 Lake Helen?
- Lake Helen in Portage County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 19.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 20 ft. Surface area: 89 acres.
Is Lake Helen safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Lake Helen?
- Lake Helen has a maximum depth of 20 feet. The lake covers 89 acres.
What fish are in Lake Helen?
- Fish species found in Lake Helen include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Lake Helen is located in Portage County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Lake Helen?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Lake Helen. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Lake Helen’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Can I fish at Lake Helen?
- Public access to Lake Helen is listed as yes on the lake record. 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 Lake Helen across LakeQuality
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
128 measurements from 4 monitoring stations, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX128 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (4)
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
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes