Where is Pretty Lake?

Pretty Lake is a lake in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.

What is the water temperature of Pretty Lake?

Pretty Lake typically sits around 57°F at the surface in October, 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.

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.

Can I fish at Pretty Lake?

Pretty 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.

Pretty Lake

Waukesha County, Wisconsin65 acresView map Directions

Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Pretty Lake. Here is what has been measured.

Clarity

12.2 ft

Clearer than most

Secchi · sampled 2026

Phosphorus

12.2 µg/L

Less phosphorus than most

Measured by Wisconsin DNR

Water temp

~57°F

Typical for Oct · EPA WQP

Max depth

31 ft

Bathymetric survey

Area

65 acres

Surface area

Type

Mesotrophic

Trophic class

Mesotrophic
31 ft max depth
Public access

See the measurements Directions Where to stay

Pretty Lake in Waukesha County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. 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 →

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Pretty Lake is a 65-acre mesotrophic lake in Waukesha County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 31 feet. 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.

Pretty Lake covers about 65 acres in Waukesha County. It has one public boat landing. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Pretty Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.

What Pretty Lake is good for

From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.

Clear water12.2 ft of visibility
Boat launch1 documented ramp
Fishing3 species recorded
Deep water31 ft surveyed max depth

Swimming conditions

Readings only

Low algae

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. Check local advisories before you swim.

Whether Pretty 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.

Compare swimming lakes near Milwaukee →

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Water quality measurements for Pretty Lake

These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Pretty Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.

Good clarity, visible to about 12.2 ft. Phosphorus 12.2 µg/L. TSI 41.

Water quality readings
Measure	Reading	Where it sits
Water clarity (Secchi depth)	12.2ft	Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer.
Total phosphorus	12.2µg/L	Good GoodFairPoor
Chlorophyll-a (algae)		No reading The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water.
Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a.	41	Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic

Moderate nutrients, good water quality

Ask about Pretty Lake

Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.

Water Temperature

Pretty Lake typically sits around 57°F at the surface in October. 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.

Jan

Feb

Mar

48°

Apr

65°

May

76°

Jun

80°

Jul

79°

Aug

74°

Sep

57°

Oct

Nov

Dec

Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (48°F) to its warmest (80°F).

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 →

DNR fisheries survey

Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Pretty Lake.

A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Pretty Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, 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).

DNR Assessment

Excellent · Deep Seepage lake

Trophic State Index 37 (oligotrophic) · 5-year average

Fish Species (DNR-rated)

Panfish(Abundant)Largemouth Bass(Common)Northern Pike(Present)

Contour map (PDF) →Full WI DNR LakePage →Water quality stations →

Lake Details

Max depth

31 ft

Surface area

65 acres

Public access

Yes

Listed by Wisconsin DNR

Lake Size & Watershed

Watershed (drainage) area

1 sq mi

HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS

Shoreline

1.1 mi

HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS

Elevation

866 ft

Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).

Recreation & Access

Boat Landings

Yes

Public Access

Pretty 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 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

Prices for Oct 16–18, 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 Pretty Lake’s readings

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Fish Species

Panfish Largemouth Bass Northern Pike

Click a species to see every 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.

Banded Mystery SnailEurasian Water-Milfoil

Water Quality Trend: Improving

Based on 7 years of monitoring (2020–2026).

Water clarity
Improving
6 years
Phosphorus
Stable
-0.14 µg/L/yr7 years

See year-by-year chart →

Nearby Lakes in Waukesha County

Ottawa Lake13 ft clear · Mesotrophic—View →School Section Lake6.2 ft clear · Eutrophic—View →Larkin Lake—View →Hunters Lake9.5 ft clear · Mesotrophic—View →Dutchman Lake—View →Henrietta Lake—View →

Frequently asked questions about Pretty Lake

Where is Pretty Lake?: Pretty Lake is a lake in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Pretty Lake?: Pretty Lake in Waukesha County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. 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?: Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Pretty Lake?: Pretty Lake typically sits around 57°F at the surface in October, 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 water quality. LakeQuality shows Pretty Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, 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.
Can I fish at Pretty Lake?: Pretty 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 Pretty Lake across LakeQuality

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Official ratings and named-lake measurements

State Parks Near Pretty Lake

Aztalan State Park

State Park · 20 mi

Other Lakes in Wisconsin

Blue Spring Lake

Jefferson County · 6.2 ft

Booth Lake

Walworth County · 8 ft

Pleasant Lake

Walworth County · 12 ft

Army Lake

Walworth County · 8.2 ft

Green Lake

Walworth County · 11 ft

Middle Lake

Walworth County · 10 ft

Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin

Peters Lake Pickerel Lake Swan Lake Booth Lake

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 ResourcesWIDNR_WQX124 samples · 2020–2026

Analytical methods

Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method

Monitoring station identifiers (1)

WIDNR_WQX-683325

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.