Porcupine Lake
Porcupine Lake in Florence County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 11 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 20 ft. Surface area: 36 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as present on Porcupine Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 11 ft
- Max depth
- 20 ft
- Area
- 36 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
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Porcupine Lake is a 36-acre mesotrophic lake in Florence County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 20 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 2 documented fish species including Panfish and Largemouth Bass. Compared to the 11 other monitored lakes in Florence County, Porcupine Lake ranks #10 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-08-25. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Good clarity, visible to about 11 ft. Phosphorus level: 13.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 42.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 13.4 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 42 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Porcupine Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Porcupine Lake in Florence 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 Porcupine Lake
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Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as present on Porcupine Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Porcupine Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 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. Monitored by volunteers since 2007. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 20 ft |
| Surface Area | 36 acres |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Porcupine 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: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.5 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.26 µg/L/yr | 6 |
County Ranking
Ranked #10 of 12 lakes in Florence County
Nearby Lakes in Florence County
Frequently asked questions about Porcupine Lake
Where is Porcupine Lake?
- Porcupine Lake is a lake in Florence County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Porcupine Lake?
- Porcupine Lake in Florence County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 11 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 13.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 20 ft. Surface area: 36 acres.
Is Porcupine Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Porcupine Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Porcupine Lake?
- Porcupine Lake has a maximum depth of 20 feet. The lake covers 36 acres.
What fish are in Porcupine Lake?
- Fish species found in Porcupine Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass. Porcupine Lake is located in Florence County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Porcupine Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as present on Porcupine Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Porcupine Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Explore Porcupine Lake across LakeQuality
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Fish species and best lakes in Florence County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Other Grade B Lakes in Wisconsin
Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
46 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX46 samples · 2020–2025
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