Shepard Lake
Shepard Lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 4.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 18 ft. Surface area: 179 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Shepard Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 4.5 ft
- Typical in August
- 72°F
- Max depth
- 18 ft
- Area
- 179 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
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Why Shepard 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 Shepard 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, but not phosphorus and 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.
Shepard Lake is a 179-acre lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 18 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Northern Pike.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-07-05. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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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 Shepard Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 4.5 ft. Trophic State Index: 55.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 55 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Shepard Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Shepard Lake in Oneida 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 Shepard Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Shepard Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 72°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in May (about 62°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 27 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Shepard Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Shepard 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 Shepard Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, 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. Monitored by volunteers since 2017. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 18 ft |
| Surface Area | 179 acres |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Shepard 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: ↓ Declining
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.08 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1.2 µg/L/yr | 4 |
Graded lakes near Shepard Lake
Shepard Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Oneida County
Frequently asked questions about Shepard Lake
Where is Shepard Lake?
- Shepard Lake is a lake in Oneida 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 Shepard Lake?
- Shepard Lake in Oneida County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 4.5 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 18 ft. Surface area: 179 acres.
Is Shepard Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Shepard Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Shepard Lake?
- Shepard Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in August, from 27 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Shepard Lake?
- Shepard Lake has a maximum depth of 18 feet. The lake covers 179 acres.
What fish are in Shepard Lake?
- Fish species found in Shepard Lake include Musky, Panfish, Northern Pike, Walleye. Shepard Lake is located in Oneida County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Shepard Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish as abundant on Shepard 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 Shepard Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, 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.
Explore Shepard Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
67 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX67 samples · 2020–2026
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes