Richter Lake
Richter Lake in Taylor County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). 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 →
- Clarity
- 10 ft
- Typical in July
- 77°F
- Max depth
- 50 ft
- Area
- 43 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Richter Lake is a 43-acre mesotrophic lake in Taylor County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 50 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2025. 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 with 1 public boat landing. 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. 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 10 ft. Phosphorus level: 15 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 44.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 15 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 44 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay 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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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Richter Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in July. 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.
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 a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Richter Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 50 ft |
| Surface Area | 43 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Kathryn Lake Recreation AreaPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Public campgrounds near Richter Lake
- Kathryn Lake3.4 km
Nearest public campgrounds in the USGS National Map inventory, within about 3 miles. An empty list means USGS records no campground that close, which is not the same as camping being unavailable. Where the source gives an official reservation link, it is used; the cabin and hotel search does not cover campsites. More camping lakes
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded 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: ↓ Declining
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.737 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +6.2 µg/L/yr | 3 |
County Ranking
Ranked #2 of 4 lakes in Taylor County
Nearby Lakes in Taylor County
Frequently asked questions about Richter Lake
Where is Richter Lake?
- Richter Lake is a lake in Taylor County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Richter Lake?
- Richter Lake in Taylor County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 10 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 15 µg/L. Maximum depth: 50 ft. Surface area: 43 acres.
Is Richter Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Richter Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Richter Lake?
- Richter Lake typically sits around 77°F at the surface in July, 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 a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Richter Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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.
Are there boat ramps on Richter Lake?
- Richter Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Kathryn Lake Recreation Area. Public access is listed as yes.
Are there campgrounds on Richter Lake?
- Richter Lake has 1 public campground from USGS The National Map within 5 km, including Kathryn Lake. This is a location join, not a booking. Cabins and hotels are listed separately; campsite reservations use the official link when the source provides one.
Explore Richter Lake across LakeQuality
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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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)
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
Public campgrounds from USGS The National Map Structures, within about 3 miles