Potter Lake
Potter Lake in Walworth County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). 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 →
- Clarity
- 4.3 ft
- Max depth
- 26 ft
- Area
- 155 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Public access
- Yes
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Potter Lake is a 155-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Walworth County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 26 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 2 sampling years through 2020. 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. 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.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Murky, only visible to about 4.3 ft. Phosphorus level: 35 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 7.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 54.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 35 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 7.5 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 54 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay 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
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish and Largemouth Bass as abundant on Potter Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Potter Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry. 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
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 26 ft |
| Surface Area | 155 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
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
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded 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
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10000582 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #5 of 19 lakes in Walworth County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Potter Lake holds Grade B. 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 Walworth County
Frequently asked questions about Potter Lake
Where is Potter Lake?
- Potter Lake is a lake in Walworth County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Potter Lake?
- Potter Lake in Walworth County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). 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?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Potter Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 7.5 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
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 a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Potter Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry. 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.
Explore Potter Lake across LakeQuality
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Walworth County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Wisconsin's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Potter Lake
Other Grade B Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
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)
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