School Section Lake
School Section Lake in Waupaca County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 6.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 23.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 38 ft. Surface area: 39 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on School Section Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 6.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Max depth
- 38 ft
- Area
- 39 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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School Section Lake is a 39-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Waupaca County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 38 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2026. 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 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 20 other monitored lakes in Waupaca County, School Section Lake ranks #11 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-23. 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)
Murky, only visible to about 6.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 23.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 50.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 23.9 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 50 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near School Section Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near School Section Lake in Waupaca 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 School Section Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
School Section Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in May (about 56°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 9 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full School Section Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on School Section Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades School Section Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 7 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. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for School Section Lake covering fish populations, stocking, water quality, and management. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- 2021School Section Lake comprehensive survey, 2021Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2021 (PDF)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 38 ft |
| Surface Area | 39 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- School Section LakePublic
- Cedar 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 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.
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.446 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +0.83 µg/L/yr | 6 |
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of School Section Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Dupont Cheese IncCity Of Marion · 4.5 mi away · NPDES WI0070611Recent violation
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #11 of 21 lakes in Waupaca County
Nearby Lakes in Waupaca County
Frequently asked questions about School Section Lake
Where is School Section Lake?
- School Section Lake is a lake in Waupaca County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for School Section Lake?
- School Section Lake in Waupaca County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 6.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 23.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 38 ft. Surface area: 39 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.
What is the water temperature of School Section Lake?
- School Section Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, from 9 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is School Section Lake?
- School Section Lake has a maximum depth of 38 feet. The lake covers 39 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 Waupaca County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at School Section Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on School Section Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades School Section Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on School Section Lake?
- School Section Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include School Section Lake, Cedar Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore School Section Lake across LakeQuality
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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State Parks Near School Section Lake
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Where this data comes from
70 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_WQX70 samples · 2020–2026
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
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