Patten Lake
Patten Lake in Florence County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 10.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Maximum depth: 52 ft. Surface area: 254 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Patten Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 10.2 ft
- Typical in August
- 69°F
- Max depth
- 52 ft
- Area
- 254 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Patten Lake is a 254-acre mesotrophic lake in Florence County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 52 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Trout. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 11 other monitored lakes in Florence County, Patten Lake ranks #11 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-05-05. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Good clarity, visible to about 10.2 ft. Phosphorus level: 15 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 15 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Patten Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Patten Lake in Florence 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 Patten Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Patten Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 72°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 75°F) and coldest in Apr (about 45°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 20 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Patten Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Patten Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Patten Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. 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. 2 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Patten Lake covering fish populations, stocking, water quality, and management. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- 2024Patten Lake comprehensive survey, 2024Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2024 (PDF)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 52 ft |
| Surface Area | 254 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Patten LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Patten 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.
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1.186 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.53 µg/L/yr | 6 |
County Ranking
Ranked #11 of 12 lakes in Florence County
Nearby Lakes in Florence County
Frequently asked questions about Patten Lake
Where is Patten Lake?
- Patten Lake is a lake in Florence County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Patten Lake?
- Patten Lake in Florence County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 10.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Maximum depth: 52 ft. Surface area: 254 acres.
Is Patten Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Patten Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Patten Lake?
- Patten Lake typically sits around 69°F at the surface in August, from 20 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Patten Lake?
- Patten Lake has a maximum depth of 52 feet. The lake covers 254 acres.
What fish are in Patten Lake?
- Fish species found in Patten Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Trout, Walleye. Patten Lake is located in Florence County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Patten Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Patten Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Patten Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Patten Lake?
- Patten Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Patten Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Patten Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Florence County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its grade
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Wisconsin's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Wisconsin
Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
46 measurements from 3 monitoring stations, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX46 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Turbidity in Water
Monitoring station identifiers (3)
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory