Nugget Lake
Nugget Lake in Pierce County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 27.4 µg/L. Surface area: 116 acres.
- Clarity
- 7.5 ft
- Area
- 116 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Pierce County
Swipe left or right on this bar to open the next or previous lake.
Nugget Lake is a 116-acre mesotrophic lake in Pierce County, Wisconsin. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 1 other monitored lakes in Pierce County, Nugget Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2023-09-06. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Watch Nugget Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 27.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 50.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 27.4 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 50 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Nugget Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Nugget Lake in Pierce 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 Nugget Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 116 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
No bathymetric survey has been published for Nugget Lake, so its depth is not documented here.
Recreation & Access
- Nugget Lake County ParkPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fishing Nugget Lake
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Nugget Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Plum Creek 2 (completed 1973), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the Plum Creek; earth-type dam, 88 ft tall and 820 ft long.
- Surface area
- 116 ac
- Normal storage
- 2,520 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 8,460 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 18 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Pierce County
All listed purposes: Flood Risk Reduction;Debris Control.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI00382 · Operator website
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Nugget Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Son Bow Farms IncSalem, Town Of · 3 mi away · NPDES WI0062928Recent violation
- Plum City Wastewater Treatment PlantPlum City · 3.3 mi away · NPDES WI0021431Recent 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 #2 of 2 lakes in Pierce County
Nearby Lakes in Pierce County
Frequently asked questions about Nugget Lake
Where is Nugget Lake?
- Nugget Lake is a lake in Pierce County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Nugget Lake?
- Nugget Lake in Pierce County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 27.4 µg/L. Surface area: 116 acres.
Is Nugget Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Nugget Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Nugget Lake?
- Nugget Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Nugget Lake County Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Nugget Lake across LakeQuality
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Wisconsin
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Wisconsin's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade C Lakes in Wisconsin
Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
6 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX6 samples · 2023
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory