Person Lake
Douglas County, WisconsinMesotrophic
Person Lake earns an A — water clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate among the best monitored waters in Douglas County. The three sub-grades — clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a — track close together, so no single parameter is dragging the average.
A TSI near 41 places Person Lake in the mesotrophic band — moderate productivity, with seasonal swings between clearer spring water and richer late-summer conditions. The lake's maximum depth is not yet documented in state morphometric records — context for its physical structure remains limited. At 174 acres, Person Lake fits the Wisconsin median for monitored lakes, with partial shoreline records. Among the 40 graded lakes in Douglas County, Person Lake sits at rank 19, above the county median.
An invasive species record — Chinese Mystery Snail — has been logged at Person Lake; Wisconsin DNR maintains the official infested-waters list. Walleye are documented at Person Lake, one of 5 fish species on record for the lake. A documented public access point at Person Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-09-26. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Swimming Safety
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A, Excellent
Crystal clear, you can see 25.4 ft down. Phosphorus level: 25.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 41.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 25.4 ft | A |
| Phosphorus | 25.2 µg/L | B |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 174 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see all Wisconsin and Minnesota lakes where it is found.
→ Best fishing times for Person Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Person Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Person Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
Invasive Species
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.38 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.16 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Recreation & Access
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #19 of 40 lakes in Douglas County
Nearby Lakes in Douglas County
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Person Lake
Other Grade A Lakes in Wisconsin
Waukesha County · Clarity: 14.6 ft
Waukesha County · Clarity: 13.8 ft
Walworth County · Clarity: 19 ft
Washington County · Clarity: 12 ft
Kenosha County · Clarity: 10.1 ft
Washington County · Clarity: 12.5 ft
Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 1999. 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 Person Lake covering fish populations, stocking, water quality, and management. 1 report on file.
- 2025Person Lake spring shocking survey, 2025Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2025 (PDF)
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Most recent sample: 2025-09-26
Monitoring stations: 1