School Section Lake
Waupaca County, Wisconsin39 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for School Section Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- 3 aquatic invasives
- 38 ft max depth
- Public access
School Section Lake in Waupaca County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. 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 →
School Section Lake is a 39-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Waupaca County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 38 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 with 1 public boat landing. 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What School Section Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing3 species recorded
- Deep water38 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 School Section 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 School Section Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for School Section Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Murky, only visible to about 6.5 ft. Phosphorus 23.9 µg/L. TSI 50.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 6.5ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 23.9µg/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. | 50 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about School Section Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
School Section Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in September. 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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (56°F) to its warmest (76°F).
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 water quality. LakeQuality shows School Section Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, 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
Max depth
38 ft
Surface area
39 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
2 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
1.3 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
850 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- School Section 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 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 →
Follow School Section Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing School Section Lake
- → School Section Lake fishing: DNR survey catch rates, species & stocking
- → School Section Lake fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → School Section Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from School Section Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
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 7 years of monitoring (2020–2026).
Water clarity
Worsening7 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+0.83 µg/L/yr6 years
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.
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. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of School Section Lake?
- School Section Lake in Waupaca County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. 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?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of School Section Lake?
- School Section Lake typically sits around 68°F at the surface in September, 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 water quality. LakeQuality shows School Section Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, 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 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include School Section Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at School Section Lake?
- School Section 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 School Section Lake across LakeQuality
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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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)
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
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