Paddock Lake
Kenosha County, WisconsinMesotrophic
On the LakeGrade rubric, Paddock Lake pulls an A: clarity at 15.0 ft and 16 µg/L of phosphorus put it in the top bracket for Wisconsin. The two scored sub-grades — clarity and phosphorus — track close together, so neither one is dragging the average down.
A TSI near 41 places Paddock Lake in the mesotrophic band — moderate productivity, with seasonal swings between clearer spring water and richer late-summer conditions. A maximum depth of 32 ft puts Paddock Lake in the middle of Wisconsin's depth distribution. At 128 acres, Paddock Lake fits the Wisconsin median for monitored lakes, with partial shoreline records. Within Kenosha County's 13 graded waters, Paddock Lake sits at rank 1, near the top of the local distribution.
Zebra mussels have been documented at Paddock Lake, which alters the filter-feeding balance and can paradoxically increase water clarity while disrupting the food web. Bass fishing is part of the appeal: the species list runs to 3, anchored by largemouth and/or smallmouth bass. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-10-06. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Crystal clear, you can see 15 ft down. Phosphorus level: 16.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 41.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 15 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | 16.1 µg/L | A |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 32 ft |
| Surface Area | 128 acres |
Fish Species
Click a species to see all Wisconsin and Minnesota lakes where it is found.
→ Best fishing times for Paddock Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Paddock Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Paddock Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
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 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.014 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.45 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 13 lakes in Kenosha County
Nearby Lakes in Kenosha County
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Paddock Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Wisconsin
Washington County · Clarity: 11.8 ft
Washington County · Clarity: 12.6 ft
Walworth County · Clarity: 11 ft
Waukesha County · Clarity: 11.3 ft
Walworth County · Clarity: 20.2 ft
Oconto County · Clarity: 11 ft
Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 1994. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
EPA Impairment Status
Paddock 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 WI10000528 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.49 km)
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2025-10-06
Monitoring stations: 1