Park Lake
Park Lake in Columbia County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Phosphorus: 82.4 µg/L. Surface area: 312 acres.
- Mean depth
- ~10 ft est.
- Area
- 312 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Columbia County
Why Park Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Park Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Sampling here has recorded phosphorus, but not water clarity and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by WI DNR and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Park Lake is a 312-acre lake in Columbia County, Wisconsin with an estimated average depth of about 10 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
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
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Park Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 82.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 68.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 82.4 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 68 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Park Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Park Lake in Columbia 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 Park Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Depth | ~10 ft est. |
| Surface Area | 312 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled estimate from HydroLAKES, not a measured survey. Wisconsin has not published bathymetry for Park Lake.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Recreation & Access
- Park Lake County ParkPublic
- Rhodes LandingPublic
Fishing Park Lake
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.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- 2021Comprehensive fishery survey of Park Lake, 2021Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2021 (PDF)
- 2011Park Lake comprehensive survey 2011Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2011 (PDF)
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 |
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
Graded lakes near Park Lake
Park Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Columbia County
Frequently asked questions about Park Lake
What is the water quality grade for Park Lake?
- Park Lake in Columbia County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Phosphorus: 82.4 µg/L. Surface area: 312 acres.
Is Park Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Park Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Park Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Park Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 10 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate. The lake covers 312 acres.
Are there boat ramps on Park Lake?
- Park Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Park Lake County Park, Rhodes Landing. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
1 measurement from 1 monitoring station, 2020. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX1 sample · 2020
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)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory