Pretty Lake
Pretty Lake in Waukesha County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 12.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 12.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 31 ft. Surface area: 65 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Pretty Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 12.2 ft
- Typical in August
- 79°F
- Max depth
- 31 ft
- Area
- 65 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Pretty Lake is a 65-acre mesotrophic lake in Waukesha County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 31 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2026. 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 34 other monitored lakes in Waukesha County, Pretty Lake ranks #13 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-22. 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 12.2 ft. Phosphorus level: 12.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 41.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 12.2 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Pretty Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Pretty Lake in Waukesha 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 Pretty Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Pretty Lake typically sits around 79°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 78°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 80°F) and coldest in Apr (about 48°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 29 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Pretty Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Pretty Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Pretty Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 7 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 1989. 2 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 31 ft |
| Surface Area | 65 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Pretty 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 Pretty 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 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.368 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.14 µg/L/yr | 7 |
County Ranking
Ranked #13 of 35 lakes in Waukesha County
Nearby Lakes in Waukesha County
Frequently asked questions about Pretty Lake
Where is Pretty Lake?
- Pretty Lake is a lake in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Pretty Lake?
- Pretty Lake in Waukesha County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 12.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 12.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 31 ft. Surface area: 65 acres.
Is Pretty Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Pretty Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Pretty Lake?
- Pretty Lake typically sits around 79°F at the surface in August, from 29 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Pretty Lake?
- Pretty Lake has a maximum depth of 31 feet. The lake covers 65 acres.
What fish are in Pretty Lake?
- Fish species found in Pretty Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Pretty Lake is located in Waukesha County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Pretty Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Pretty Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Pretty Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Pretty Lake?
- Pretty Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Pretty Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Pretty Lake across LakeQuality
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Where this data comes from
124 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX124 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory