Parker Lake

On the LakeGrade rubric, Parker Lake pulls an A: clarity at 55.8 ft and 15 µg/L of phosphorus put it in the top bracket for Wisconsin. Clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.

A TSI value of 31 puts Parker Lake in the oligotrophic range, where biological productivity stays low and the water column remains clear. Parker Lake reaches 36 ft at its deepest point — typical for Wisconsin mid-sized lakes, with seasonal stratification but limited cold-water refuge. At 57 acres, Parker Lake sits below the Wisconsin median: a small water where shoreline activity has an outsized effect on water quality. Parker Lake ranks 1 of 20 in Adams County, putting it in the upper tier of locally monitored lakes.

Eurasian watermilfoil has been documented at Parker Lake, requiring shoreline management to keep dense mats from crowding native vegetation. Bass fishing is part of the appeal: the species list runs to 3, anchored by largemouth and/or smallmouth bass. Public access is available — the lake is on the Wisconsin DNR public-access list. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.