Pepin Lake
Pepin Lake in Pepin County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 1.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 60 ft. Surface area: 24550 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as present on Pepin Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 1.5 ft
- Max depth
- 60 ft
- Area
- 24,550 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Why Pepin 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 Pepin 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.
Pepin Lake is a 24,550-acre lake in Pepin County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 60 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.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-06-05. 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 Pepin Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Very murky, less than 1.5 ft of visibility. Trophic State Index: 71.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 71 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Pepin Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Pepin Lake in Pepin 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 Pepin Lake
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Planning a trip? Cabins and lodging at Pepin Lake → · more Wisconsin lake trips
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as present on Pepin 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 Pepin Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 2 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. 6 stations on file (most recent sample 2015).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 60 ft |
| Surface Area | 24,550 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Hok-Si-La ParkPublic
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 Pepin 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: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.06 m/yr | 2 |
EPA Impairment Status
Pepin Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10030300 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Pepin Lake
Pepin Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Pepin County
Frequently asked questions about Pepin Lake
Where is Pepin Lake?
- Pepin Lake is a lake in Pepin 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 Pepin Lake?
- Pepin Lake in Pepin County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 1.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 60 ft. Surface area: 24550 acres.
Is Pepin Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Pepin 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 Pepin Lake?
- Pepin Lake has a maximum depth of 60 feet. The lake covers 24550 acres.
What fish are in Pepin Lake?
- Fish species found in Pepin Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Pepin Lake is located in Pepin County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Pepin Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as present on Pepin 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 Pepin Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Pepin Lake?
- Pepin Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Hok-Si-La Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Pepin Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
6 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA6 samples · 2024–2025
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
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
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory