Otter Lake
Waupaca County, Wisconsin15 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Otter Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- 2 aquatic invasives
- 40 ft max depth
- Limited data
Otter Lake in Waupaca County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 40 ft. Surface area: 15 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Otter Lake. DNR survey details →
Otter Lake is a 15-acre mesotrophic lake in Waupaca County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 40 feet. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Compared to the 20 other monitored lakes in Waupaca County, Otter Lake ranks #15 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-08-30. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Otter Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Fishing4 species recorded
- Deep water40 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
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 Otter Lake 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 Otter Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Otter Lake, 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 17.8 µg/L. TSI 46.
| 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 | 17.8µg/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. | 46 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Otter Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Otter Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 89°F) and coldest in Apr (about 48°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (48°F) to its warmest (89°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 8 field readings (2025–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Otter Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Otter Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Otter Lake’s water-quality measurements separately. 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 1994. 4 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
Max depth
40 ft
Surface area
15 acres
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Otter Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Otter 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.
Nearby Lakes in Waupaca County
Frequently asked questions about Otter Lake
Where is Otter Lake?
- Otter Lake is a lake in Waupaca County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Otter Lake?
- Otter Lake in Waupaca County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 40 ft. Surface area: 15 acres.
Is Otter Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Otter Lake?
- Otter Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in August, from 8 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2025–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Otter Lake?
- Otter Lake has a maximum depth of 40 feet. The lake covers 15 acres.
What fish are in Otter Lake?
- Fish species found in Otter Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Otter Lake is located in Waupaca County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Otter Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Otter Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Otter Lake’s water-quality measurements separately. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Explore Otter Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
8 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX8 samples · 2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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