Pigeon Lake
Waupaca County, Wisconsin173 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Pigeon Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- 3 aquatic invasives
- 10 ft max depth
- Public access
Pigeon Lake in Waupaca County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. 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 →
Pigeon Lake is a 173-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Waupaca County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 10 feet. 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Pigeon Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
- Fishing3 species recorded
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyElevated nutrients
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Pigeon Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Pigeon Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Pigeon Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Very murky, less than 2.5 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 77.8 µg/L. TSI 65.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 2.5ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 77.8µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | No reading The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. | |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 65 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Pigeon Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Pigeon Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in September. 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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (57°F) to its warmest (74°F).
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 water quality. LakeQuality shows Pigeon Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, 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
Max depth
10 ft
Surface area
173 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
111 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
5.3 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
810 ft
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
Stays via Stay22
Stays 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 readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Pigeon Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Pigeon Lake
Prices for Oct 16–18, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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 →
Follow Pigeon Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every 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 (2022–2026).
Water clarity
Improving5 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+3.6 µg/L/yr3 years
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.
Nearby Lakes in Waupaca County
Frequently asked questions about Pigeon Lake
Where is Pigeon Lake?
- Pigeon Lake is a lake in Waupaca County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Pigeon Lake?
- Pigeon Lake in Waupaca County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. 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?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Pigeon Lake?
- Pigeon Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in September, 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 water quality. LakeQuality shows Pigeon Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, 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.
Can I fish at Pigeon Lake?
- Pigeon Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Wisconsin's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
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)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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