Pensaukee Lake
Pensaukee Lake in Shawano County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 10.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 49 ft. Surface area: 109 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Pensaukee Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 10.5 ft
- Max depth
- 49 ft
- Area
- 109 acres
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
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Why Pensaukee Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: 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 Pensaukee Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus 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.
Pensaukee Lake is a 109-acre lake in Shawano County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 49 feet. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2020-09-27. Grade methodology: LakeQuality 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 Pensaukee Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 10.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Pensaukee Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Pensaukee Lake in Shawano 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 Pensaukee Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Pensaukee Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Pensaukee Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. 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. 3 stations on file (most recent sample 2023).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 49 ft |
| Surface Area | 109 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Pensaukee 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 Pensaukee 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: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -1.429 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.12 µg/L/yr | 5 |
EPA Impairment Status
Pensaukee 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 WI10001029 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.64 km)
Graded lakes near Pensaukee Lake
Pensaukee Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Shawano County
Frequently asked questions about Pensaukee Lake
Where is Pensaukee Lake?
- Pensaukee Lake is a lake in Shawano County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — there is not enough recent sampling to assign a letter.
What is the water quality grade for Pensaukee Lake?
- Pensaukee Lake in Shawano County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 10.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 49 ft. Surface area: 109 acres.
Is Pensaukee Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Pensaukee 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 Pensaukee Lake?
- Pensaukee Lake has a maximum depth of 49 feet. The lake covers 109 acres.
What fish are in Pensaukee Lake?
- Fish species found in Pensaukee Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Pensaukee Lake is located in Shawano County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Pensaukee Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Pensaukee Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Pensaukee Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Pensaukee Lake?
- Pensaukee Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Pensaukee Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
4 measurements 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_WQX4 samples · 2020
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)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory