Lower Spring Lake
Lower Spring Lake in Jefferson County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 44.1 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 4 ft
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Jefferson County
Lower Spring Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Jefferson County, Wisconsin. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 6 other monitored lakes in Jefferson County, Lower Spring Lake ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-07-14. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria B
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Based on E. coli testing, Lower Spring Lake rarely exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 2.5% of 122 samples across 9 seasons.
This is a historical summary of past testing, not a current condition — bacteria levels change quickly, especially after rain. Always check Wisconsin’s current beach and health-department advisories before swimming.
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 4 ft. Phosphorus level: 44.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 58.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 44.1 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 58 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Lower Spring Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lower Spring Lake in Jefferson 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Lower Spring Lake
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Recreation & Access
- Lower Spring LakePublic
Fishing Lower Spring Lake
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Lower Spring Lake covering fish populations, stocking, water quality, and management. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- 2025Lower Spring Lake spring shocking survey, 2025Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2025 (PDF)
- 2023Lower Spring Lake Spring summary report, 2023Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2023 (PDF)
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.321 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.12 µg/L/yr | 7 |
EPA Impairment Status
Lower Spring Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10009837 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.54 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Lower Spring Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Palmyra Wastewater Treatment FacilityPalmyra · 0.8 mi away · NPDES WI0031020Recent violation
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 7 lakes in Jefferson County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Lower Spring Lake holds Grade C. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Jefferson County
Frequently asked questions about Lower Spring Lake
What is the water quality grade for Lower Spring Lake?
- Lower Spring Lake in Jefferson County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 44.1 µg/L.
Is Lower Spring Lake safe to swim in?
- Based on E. coli testing, Lower Spring Lake rarely exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 2.5% of 122 samples across 9 seasons. That works out to a bacteria swim-safety grade of B — a historical summary of past testing, not a current reading. Lower Spring Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Bacteria levels can spike quickly after heavy rain, so always check Wisconsin's current beach and health-department advisories before you swim.
Are there boat ramps on Lower Spring Lake?
- Lower Spring Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lower Spring Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Lower Spring Lake across LakeGrade
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
110 measurements from 2 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_WQX110 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory