Peterson Lake
Peterson Lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 129.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 56 ft. Surface area: 9 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Peterson Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 3.5 ft
- Max depth
- 56 ft
- Area
- 9 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Peterson Lake →
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Peterson Lake is a 9-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 56 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2020. The lake supports 1 documented fish species including Panfish. Compared to the 38 other monitored lakes in Oconto County, Peterson Lake ranks #37 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2020-09-23. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Murky, only visible to about 3.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 129.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 67.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 129.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 67 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Peterson Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Peterson Lake in Oconto 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Peterson Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Peterson 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 Peterson Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Peterson Lake D from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry. 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. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2020).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 56 ft |
| Surface Area | 9 acres |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Peterson Lake
EPA Impairment Status
Peterson 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 WI10000916 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.67 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #37 of 39 lakes in Oconto County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Peterson Lake holds Grade D. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Oconto County
Frequently asked questions about Peterson Lake
Where is Peterson Lake?
- Peterson Lake is a lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Peterson Lake?
- Peterson Lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 129.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 56 ft. Surface area: 9 acres.
Is Peterson Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Peterson Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Peterson Lake?
- Peterson Lake has a maximum depth of 56 feet. The lake covers 9 acres.
What fish are in Peterson Lake?
- Fish species found in Peterson Lake include Panfish. Peterson Lake is located in Oconto County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Peterson Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Peterson Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Peterson Lake D from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Explore Peterson Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
10 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_WQX10 samples · 2020
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes