Potter Lake
Walworth County, Wisconsin155 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Potter Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- 2 aquatic invasives
- 26 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Potter Lake in Walworth County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 4.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 35 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 26 ft. Surface area: 155 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish and Largemouth Bass as abundant on Potter Lake. DNR survey details →
Potter Lake is a 155-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Walworth County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 26 feet. 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 18 other monitored lakes in Walworth County, Potter Lake ranks #5 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2020-10-07. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Potter Lake covers about 160 acres in Walworth County. It has one public boat landing. If you are planning to stay, you can search lake houses and cabins around Potter Lake on Vrbo, or look for a hotel room near the lake on Booking.com or Expedia.
What Potter Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing3 species recorded
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
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. Potter Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Potter 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 Potter Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Potter Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Murky, only visible to about 4.3 ft. Phosphorus 35 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 7.5 µg/L. TSI 54.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 4.3ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 35µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 7.5µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 54 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Potter Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish and Largemouth Bass as abundant on Potter Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Potter Lake’s water-quality measurements separately. 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 2020).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
Max depth
26 ft
Surface area
155 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
2 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
2.1 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
810 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Potter LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Potter Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Potter Lake in Walworth 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 Potter Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 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 Potter Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Potter 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.
EPA Impairment Status
Potter Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Recreation.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10000582 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Walworth County
Frequently asked questions about Potter Lake
Where is Potter Lake?
- Potter Lake is a lake in Walworth County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Potter Lake?
- Potter Lake in Walworth County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 4.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 35 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 7.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 26 ft. Surface area: 155 acres.
Is Potter Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Potter Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Potter Lake?
- Potter Lake has a maximum depth of 26 feet. The lake covers 155 acres.
What fish are in Potter Lake?
- Fish species found in Potter Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Potter Lake is located in Walworth County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Potter Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish and Largemouth Bass as abundant on Potter Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Potter Lake’s water-quality measurements separately. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Potter Lake?
- Potter Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Potter Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Potter Lake?
- Potter Lake has 1 documented boat landing 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 Potter Lake across LakeQuality
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Fish species and best lakes in Walworth County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Where this data comes from
32 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- USGS Wisconsin Water Science Center
USGS-WI21 samples · 2020 - Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX11 samples · 2020
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Turbidity in Water
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
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