Person Lake
Person Lake in Douglas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 25.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 8 ft. Surface area: 174 acres.
- Clarity
- 7.6 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Max depth
- 8 ft
- Area
- 174 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Douglas County
Person Lake is a 174-acre mesotrophic lake in Douglas County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 8 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Smallmouth Bass. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 14 other monitored lakes in Douglas County, Person Lake ranks #10 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-21. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.6 ft. Phosphorus level: 25.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 49.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 25.3 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Person Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Person Lake in Douglas 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 Person Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Person Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in Sep (about 65°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 18 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Person Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 8 ft |
| Surface Area | 174 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Crystal LakePublic
- Cranberry LakePublic
- Person LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Person 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.
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.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- 2025Person Lake spring shocking survey, 2025Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2025 (PDF)
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.286 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.76 µg/L/yr | 7 |
County Ranking
Ranked #10 of 15 lakes in Douglas County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Person Lake holds Grade C. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Douglas County
Frequently asked questions about Person Lake
What is the water quality grade for Person Lake?
- Person Lake in Douglas County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 7.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 25.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 8 ft. Surface area: 174 acres.
Is Person Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Person Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Person Lake?
- Person Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, from 18 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Person Lake?
- Person Lake has a maximum depth of 8 feet. The lake covers 174 acres.
What fish are in Person Lake?
- Fish species found in Person Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Person Lake is located in Douglas County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Person Lake?
- Person Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Crystal Lake, Cranberry Lake, Person Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Person Lake across LakeGrade
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Where this data comes from
44 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX44 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
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
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