Shawano Lake
Shawano County, Wisconsin6,215 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Shawano Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- 4 aquatic invasives
- 40 ft max depth
- Public access
Shawano Lake in Shawano County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 5.9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 29.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 39.5 ft. Surface area: 6215 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Northern Pike as abundant on Shawano Lake. DNR survey details →
Shawano Lake is a 6,215-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Shawano County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 40 feet. 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 3 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
At about 6,200 acres, Shawano Lake is large enough that where you stay decides which shore you see most of. It has 3 public boat landings, so a lakefront rental is not the only way to get a boat on the water. If you are planning to stay, you can search lake houses and cabins around Shawano Lake on Vrbo, or look for a hotel room near the lake on Booking.com or Expedia.
What Shawano Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch3 documented ramps
- Fishing6 species recorded
- Deep water39.5 ft surveyed max depth
- Big water6,215 acres
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
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. Shawano Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Shawano 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 Shawano Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Shawano 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 5.9 ft. Phosphorus 29.6 µg/L. TSI 52.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 5.9ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 29.6µg/L | Fair 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. | 52 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Shawano Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Shawano Lake typically sits around 70°F at the surface in September. 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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (56°F) to its warmest (77°F).
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 →
Wisconsin DNR rates Northern Pike as abundant on Shawano Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Shawano Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 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. 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)
Lake Details
Max depth
39.5 ft
Surface area
6,215 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
59 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
15.4 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
794 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Shawano Lake County ParkPublic
- Cattau Beach RoadPublic
- Swan Acre DrivePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays 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
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a trip? Cabins and lodging at Shawano Lake → · more Wisconsin lake trips
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every 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.
Water Quality Trend: Improving
Based on 7 years of monitoring (2020–2026).
Water clarity
Improving7 years
Phosphorus
Improving-3.39 µg/L/yr5 years
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
Designated uses not supporting: Recreation.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10000104 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Shawano County
Frequently asked questions about Shawano Lake
Where is Shawano Lake?
- Shawano Lake is a lake in Shawano County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Shawano Lake?
- Shawano Lake in Shawano County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. 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?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Shawano Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Shawano Lake?
- Shawano Lake typically sits around 70°F at the surface in September, 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.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Shawano Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Northern Pike as abundant on Shawano Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Shawano Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Shawano Lake?
- Shawano Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Shawano Lake County Park, Cattau Beach Road, Swan Acre Drive. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Shawano Lake?
- Shawano Lake has 3 documented boat landings 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 Shawano Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Shawano County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Wolf River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Wisconsin's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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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)
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
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