Pigeon Lake
Pigeon Lake in Waupaca County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 77.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 10 ft. Surface area: 173 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as present on Pigeon Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 2.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 72°F
- Max depth
- 10 ft
- Area
- 173 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Pigeon Lake →
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Pigeon Lake is a 173-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Waupaca County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 10 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Water clarity is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 20 other monitored lakes in Waupaca County, Pigeon Lake ranks #21 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-30. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyElevated nutrients
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)
Very murky, less than 2.5 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 77.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 65.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 77.8 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 65 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Pigeon Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Pigeon Lake in Waupaca 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 Pigeon Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Pigeon Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Pigeon Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 74°F) and coldest in Apr (about 57°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 18 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Pigeon Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as present on Pigeon Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Pigeon Lake D from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 5 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. Monitored by volunteers since 1990. 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 Pigeon Lake covering fish populations, stocking, water quality, and management. 3 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- 2025Pigeon Lake comprehensive summary survey, 2025Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2025 (PDF)
- 2022Pigeon Lake spring shocking survey, 2022Spring Shocking Survey · WI DNR · 2022 (PDF)
- 2021Pigeon Lake shocking survey, 2021Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2021 (PDF)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 10 ft |
| Surface Area | 173 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Pigeon LakePublic
- Hemlock Street BridgePublic
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 Pigeon 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 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.083 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +3.6 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Pigeon Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Clintonville (completed 1855), built primarily for recreation on the PIGEON; gravity-type dam, 20 ft tall and 240 ft long.
- Surface area
- 163 ac
- Normal storage
- 688 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 1,020 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 120 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- City Of Clintonville
All listed purposes: Recreation;Flood Risk Reduction.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI00224 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.96 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Pigeon Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Clintonville Wastewater Treatment FacilityClintonville · 1.3 mi away · NPDES WI0021466Recent violation
- Friendship Valley Dairy LlcLarrabee, Town Of · 2.3 mi away · NPDES WI0059218Recent violation
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #21 of 21 lakes in Waupaca County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Pigeon Lake holds Grade D. 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 Waupaca County
Frequently asked questions about Pigeon Lake
Where is Pigeon Lake?
- Pigeon Lake is a lake in Waupaca County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Pigeon Lake?
- Pigeon Lake in Waupaca County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 77.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 10 ft. Surface area: 173 acres.
Is Pigeon 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. Pigeon Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Pigeon Lake?
- Pigeon Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August, from 18 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Pigeon Lake?
- Pigeon Lake has a maximum depth of 10 feet. The lake covers 173 acres.
What fish are in Pigeon Lake?
- Fish species found in Pigeon Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Pigeon Lake is located in Waupaca County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Pigeon Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as present on Pigeon Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Pigeon Lake D from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Pigeon Lake?
- Pigeon Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Pigeon Lake, Hemlock Street Bridge. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Pigeon Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
47 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX47 samples · 2022–2026
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
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