Shadow Lake
Shadow Lake in Waupaca County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 12 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 41 ft. Surface area: 44 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Shadow Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 12 ft
- Max depth
- 41 ft
- Area
- 44 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Shadow Lake is a 44-acre mesotrophic lake in Waupaca County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 41 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 4 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, Shadow Lake ranks #9 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-04-20. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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 12 ft. Phosphorus level: 11.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 41.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 11.9 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 41 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Shadow Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Shadow 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 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 grades Shadow Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 4 years of monitoring is improving. 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 Shadow 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).
- 2021Shadow Lake shocking survey, 2021Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2021 (PDF)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 41 ft |
| Surface Area | 44 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Shadow 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 Shadow 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: ↑ Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.5 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -9.77 µg/L/yr | 3 |
EPA Impairment Status
Shadow Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10000421 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #9 of 21 lakes in Waupaca County
Nearby Lakes in Waupaca County
Frequently asked questions about Shadow Lake
Where is Shadow Lake?
- Shadow 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 Shadow Lake?
- Shadow Lake in Waupaca County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 12 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 41 ft. Surface area: 44 acres.
Is Shadow Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Shadow Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Shadow Lake?
- Shadow Lake has a maximum depth of 41 feet. The lake covers 44 acres.
What fish are in Shadow Lake?
- Fish species found in Shadow Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Shadow Lake is located in Waupaca 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 grades Shadow Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 4 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Shadow Lake?
- Shadow Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Shadow Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Shadow 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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State Parks Near Shadow Lake
Other Grade B Lakes in Wisconsin
Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
26 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_WQX26 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
- 2130 B ~ Nephelometric Method
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
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