North Pipe Lake
North Pipe Lake in Polk County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 29.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 37 ft. Surface area: 64 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on North Pipe Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 5.8 ft
- Max depth
- 37 ft
- Area
- 64 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
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North Pipe Lake is a 64-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Polk County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 37 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Smallmouth Bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 54 other monitored lakes in Polk County, North Pipe Lake ranks #31 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-05-16. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 5.8 ft. Phosphorus level: 29.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 52.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 29.3 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 52 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near North Pipe Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near North Pipe Lake in Polk 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 North Pipe Lake
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Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on North Pipe Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades North Pipe Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is stable. 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 1998. 4 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 37 ft |
| Surface Area | 64 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Pipe LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing North Pipe Lake
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: → Stable
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.643 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -2.97 µg/L/yr | 7 |
EPA Impairment Status
North Pipe Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5R).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10005006 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #31 of 55 lakes in Polk County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
North Pipe Lake holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Polk County
Frequently asked questions about North Pipe Lake
Where is North Pipe Lake?
- North Pipe Lake is a lake in Polk County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for North Pipe Lake?
- North Pipe Lake in Polk County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 29.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 37 ft. Surface area: 64 acres.
Is North Pipe Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. North Pipe Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is North Pipe Lake?
- North Pipe Lake has a maximum depth of 37 feet. The lake covers 64 acres.
What fish are in North Pipe Lake?
- Fish species found in North Pipe Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. North Pipe Lake is located in Polk County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at North Pipe Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on North Pipe Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades North Pipe Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on North Pipe Lake?
- North Pipe Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Pipe Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore North Pipe Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
74 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX74 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory