School Section Lake
School Section Lake in Waukesha County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 6.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 26.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 8 ft. Surface area: 122 acres.
- Clarity
- 6.2 ft
- Max depth
- 8 ft
- Area
- 122 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Waukesha County
School Section Lake is a 122-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Waukesha County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 8 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, School Section Lake ranks #21 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-03-30. Grade methodology: LakeGrade 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)
Murky, only visible to about 6.2 ft. Phosphorus level: 26.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 51.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 26.2 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 51 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near School Section Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 8 ft |
| Surface Area | 122 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- School Section LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing School Section 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.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. 2 stations on file (most recent sample 2026).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.723 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.79 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
School Section Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the School Section Lake (completed 1937), built primarily for recreation on the U/N Tributary to Bark R.; gravity-type dam, 8 ft tall and 2,900 ft long.
- Surface area
- 117 ac
- Normal storage
- 230 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 700 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 2 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Waukesha County
All listed purposes: Recreation;Other.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI01142 · Operator website
County Ranking
Ranked #21 of 35 lakes in Waukesha County
Nearby Lakes in Waukesha County
Frequently asked questions about School Section Lake
What is the water quality grade for School Section Lake?
- School Section Lake in Waukesha County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 6.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 26.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 8 ft. Surface area: 122 acres.
Is School Section Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. School Section Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is School Section Lake?
- School Section Lake has a maximum depth of 8 feet. The lake covers 122 acres.
What fish are in School Section Lake?
- Fish species found in School Section Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. School Section Lake is located in Waukesha County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on School Section Lake?
- School Section Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include School Section Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore School Section Lake across LakeGrade
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
48 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_WQX48 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
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