Shawano Lake
Shawano Lake in Shawano County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 29.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 39.5 ft. Surface area: 6215 acres.
- Clarity
- 5.9 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Max depth
- 39.5 ft
- Area
- 6,215 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Shawano County
Shawano Lake is a 6,215-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Shawano County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 40 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 6 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 20 other monitored lakes in Shawano County, Shawano Lake ranks #17 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-20. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 5.9 ft. Phosphorus level: 29.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 52.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 29.6 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 52 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Shawano Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Shawano Lake in Shawano 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 Shawano Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Shawano Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in Apr (about 56°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 46 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Shawano Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 39.5 ft |
| Surface Area | 6,215 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Cattau Beach RoadPublic
- Swan Acre DrivePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Shawano 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. Monitored by volunteers since 1988. 10 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Shawano 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).
- 2023Shawano Lake comprehensive summary, 2023Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2023 (PDF)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.339 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -3.39 µg/L/yr | 5 |
EPA Impairment Status
Shawano Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10000104 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #17 of 21 lakes in Shawano County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Shawano Lake holds Grade C. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Shawano County
Frequently asked questions about Shawano Lake
What is the water quality grade for Shawano Lake?
- Shawano Lake in Shawano County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 29.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 39.5 ft. Surface area: 6215 acres.
Is Shawano Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Shawano Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Shawano Lake?
- Shawano Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, from 46 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Shawano Lake?
- Shawano Lake has a maximum depth of 39.5 feet. The lake covers 6215 acres.
What fish are in Shawano Lake?
- Fish species found in Shawano Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Sturgeon. Shawano Lake is located in Shawano County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Shawano Lake?
- Shawano Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Cattau Beach Road, Swan Acre Drive. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Shawano Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
109 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_WQX109 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
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