Pearl Lake
Waushara County, Wisconsin101 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Pearl Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Oligotrophic
- 2 aquatic invasives
- 45 ft max depth
- Public access
Pearl Lake in Waushara County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 19 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 45 ft. Surface area: 101 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Pearl Lake. DNR survey details →
Pearl Lake is a 101-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Waushara County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 45 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 15 other monitored lakes in Waushara County, Pearl Lake ranks #11 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-05-15. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Pearl Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water19 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing3 species recorded
- Deep water45 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Pearl Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Pearl Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Pearl Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Crystal clear, you can see 19 ft down. Phosphorus 10.8 µg/L. TSI 37.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 19ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 10.8µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | No reading The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. | |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 37 | Oligotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. No reading is a swimming clearance.
Ask about Pearl Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Pearl Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 77°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 80°F) and coldest in May (about 62°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (62°F) to its warmest (80°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 10 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Pearl Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Pearl Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Pearl Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. 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. Monitored by volunteers since 1986. 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 Pearl 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).
- 2021Pearl Lake comprehensive summary survey, 2021Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2021 (PDF)
Lake Details
Max depth
45 ft
Surface area
101 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
2 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
2.1 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
823 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Pearl LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Pearl Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Pearl Lake in Waushara 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 Pearl Lake
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Follow Pearl Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Pearl 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: Worsening
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Worsening6 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+2.48 µg/L/yr6 years
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Pearl Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Redgranite Wastewater Treatment FacilityRedgranite · 4.2 mi away · NPDES WI0020729Recent violation
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
Nearby Lakes in Waushara County
Frequently asked questions about Pearl Lake
Where is Pearl Lake?
- Pearl Lake is a lake in Waushara County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Pearl Lake?
- Pearl Lake in Waushara County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 19 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 10.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 45 ft. Surface area: 101 acres.
Is Pearl Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Pearl Lake?
- Pearl Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August, from 10 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Pearl Lake?
- Pearl Lake has a maximum depth of 45 feet. The lake covers 101 acres.
What fish are in Pearl Lake?
- Fish species found in Pearl Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Pearl Lake is located in Waushara County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Pearl Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Pearl Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Pearl Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Pearl Lake?
- Pearl Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Pearl Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Pearl Lake?
- Pearl Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Wisconsin's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Pearl Lake across LakeQuality
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
47 measurements from 2 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_WQX47 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
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