Shadow Lake
Shadow Lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 18 µg/L. Maximum depth: 7 ft. Surface area: 24 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Shadow Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 6 ft
- Max depth
- 7 ft
- Area
- 24 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Why Shadow Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Shadow Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity and phosphorus, but not algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by WI DNR and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Shadow Lake is a 24-acre lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 7 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.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2023-08-23. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
Watch Shadow Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Shadow Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 6 ft. Phosphorus level: 18 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 49.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 18 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Shadow Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Shadow Lake in Oconto 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 Shadow Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Shadow Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Shadow Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 3 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 2023).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 7 ft |
| Surface Area | 24 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Shadow Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -4.214 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.9 µg/L/yr | 2 |
Graded lakes near Shadow Lake
Shadow Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Oconto County
Frequently asked questions about Shadow Lake
Where is Shadow Lake?
- Shadow Lake is a lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — there is not enough recent sampling to assign a letter.
What is the water quality grade for Shadow Lake?
- Shadow Lake in Oconto County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 18 µg/L. Maximum depth: 7 ft. Surface area: 24 acres.
Is Shadow Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Shadow Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Shadow Lake?
- Shadow Lake has a maximum depth of 7 feet. The lake covers 24 acres.
What fish are in Shadow Lake?
- Fish species found in Shadow Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Shadow Lake is located in Oconto County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Shadow Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Shadow Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Shadow Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 3 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
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Where this data comes from
10 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX10 samples · 2022–2023
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
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes