Park Lake
Columbia County, WisconsinLimited DataEutrophic
Park Lake pulls a D on the LakeGrade rubric — phosphorus loading and limited clarity hold it below the Wisconsin average.
Eutrophic conditions are the baseline here: clarity drops noticeably in late summer, and dissolved oxygen near the bottom can become a concern. The lake's maximum depth is not yet documented in state morphometric records — context for its physical structure remains limited. Park Lake covers 312 acres alongside partial shoreline records — a mid-sized water that supports a working fishery without being so large that conditions diverge between basins. Park Lake ranks 4 of 10 in Columbia County — solidly in the upper half of the local distribution.
No invasive species are currently listed at Park Lake — the lake remains off the Wisconsin infested-waters roster. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Park Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2020-07-23. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 82.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 68.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No data | |
| Phosphorus | 82.4 µg/L | D |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 68 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 312 acres |
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.12 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -1.6 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 10 lakes in Columbia County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Park Lake holds Grade D. 4 nearby lakes hold higher grades.
Nearby Lakes in Columbia County
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Park Lake
Other Grade D Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Park Lake covering fish populations, stocking, water quality, and management. 2 reports on file.
- 2021Comprehensive fishery survey of Park Lake, 2021Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2021 (PDF)
- 2011Park Lake comprehensive survey 2011Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2011 (PDF)
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Park Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Pardeeville (completed 1849), built primarily for recreation on the FOX R.; gravity-type dam, 16 ft tall and 230 ft long.
- Surface area
- 312 ac
- Normal storage
- 2,050 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 3,300 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 56 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Village Of Pardeeville
All listed purposes: Recreation;Hydroelectric.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI00113 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Park Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10006154 · Official waterbody report
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: 2020-07-23
Monitoring stations: 1