Richter Lake
Taylor County, Wisconsin43 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Richter Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Rusty Crayfish
- 50 ft max depth
- Public access
Richter Lake in Taylor County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 10 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Maximum depth: 50 ft. Surface area: 43 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Richter Lake. DNR survey details →
Richter Lake is a 43-acre mesotrophic lake in Taylor County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 50 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Taylor County, Richter Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-09-26. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Richter Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water10 ft of visibility
- Fishing3 species recorded
- Deep water50 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLow 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 Richter 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 Richter Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Richter 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 10 ft. Phosphorus 15 µg/L. TSI 44.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 10ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 15µg/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. | 44 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Richter Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Richter Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 76°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in Apr (about 38°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (38°F) to its warmest (77°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 8 field readings (2024–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Richter Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Richter Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Richter Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is declining. 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 2021. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
Max depth
50 ft
Surface area
43 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
1 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
1.4 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,444 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Richter Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Richter Lake in Taylor 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 Richter Lake
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Follow Richter Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Richter 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: Worsening
Based on 5 years of monitoring (2021–2025).
Water clarity
Worsening5 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+6.2 µg/L/yr3 years
Nearby Lakes in Taylor County
Frequently asked questions about Richter Lake
Where is Richter Lake?
- Richter Lake is a lake in Taylor County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Richter Lake?
- Richter Lake in Taylor County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 10 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Maximum depth: 50 ft. Surface area: 43 acres.
Is Richter 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 Richter Lake?
- Richter Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in September, from 8 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Richter Lake?
- Richter Lake has a maximum depth of 50 feet. The lake covers 43 acres.
What fish are in Richter Lake?
- Fish species found in Richter Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Richter Lake is located in Taylor County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Richter Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Richter Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Richter Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Can I fish at Richter Lake?
- Public access to Richter Lake is listed as yes on the lake record. 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 Richter Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
118 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX118 samples · 2021–2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes