Porcupine Lake-Deep Hole
Porcupine Lake-Deep Hole in Oconto County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 6.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 54.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 20 ft. Surface area: 32 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Porcupine Lake-Deep Hole. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 6.5 ft
- Max depth
- 20 ft
- Area
- 32 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Porcupine Lake-Deep Hole →
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Porcupine Lake-Deep Hole is a 32-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 20 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality 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 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 38 other monitored lakes in Oconto County, Porcupine Lake-Deep Hole ranks #36 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2023-08-23. 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 6.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 54.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 56.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 54.3 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 56 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Porcupine Lake-Deep Hole
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Porcupine Lake-Deep Hole 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 Porcupine Lake-Deep Hole are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Porcupine Lake-Deep Hole
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Porcupine Lake-Deep Hole.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Porcupine Lake-Deep Hole D from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is improving. 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. 2 stations on file (most recent sample 2023).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 20 ft |
| Surface Area | 32 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Porcupine LakePublic
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 Porcupine Lake-Deep Hole
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: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +2.083 m/yr | 2 |
EPA Impairment Status
Porcupine Lake-Deep Hole 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 WI10000914 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (0.07 km)
County Ranking
Ranked #36 of 39 lakes in Oconto County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Porcupine Lake-Deep Hole 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 Porcupine Lake-Deep Hole
Where is Porcupine Lake-Deep Hole?
- Porcupine Lake-Deep Hole 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 Porcupine Lake-Deep Hole?
- Porcupine Lake-Deep Hole in Oconto County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 6.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 54.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 20 ft. Surface area: 32 acres.
Is Porcupine Lake-Deep Hole safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Porcupine Lake-Deep Hole has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Porcupine Lake-Deep Hole?
- Porcupine Lake-Deep Hole has a maximum depth of 20 feet. The lake covers 32 acres.
What fish are in Porcupine Lake-Deep Hole?
- Fish species found in Porcupine Lake-Deep Hole include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Porcupine Lake-Deep Hole is located in Oconto County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Porcupine Lake-Deep Hole?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Porcupine Lake-Deep Hole. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Porcupine Lake-Deep Hole D from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Porcupine Lake-Deep Hole?
- Porcupine Lake-Deep Hole has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Porcupine Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
14 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX14 samples · 2020–2023
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
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