Shoe Lake
Shoe Lake in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 26.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 34 ft. Surface area: 10 acres.
- Clarity
- 7 ft
- Max depth
- 34 ft
- Area
- 10 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Manitowoc County
Shoe Lake is a 10-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 34 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 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 15 other monitored lakes in Manitowoc County, Shoe Lake ranks #7 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-04-26. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7 ft. Phosphorus level: 26.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 50.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 26.6 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 50 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Shoe Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Shoe Lake in Manitowoc 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.
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 34 ft |
| Surface Area | 10 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Shoe LakePublic
- Sisson ParkPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Shoe 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 2003. 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 Shoe 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).
- 2018Shoe Lake electrofishing survey, 2018Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2018 (PDF)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.357 m/yr | 4 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -1.29 µg/L/yr | 5 |
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Shoe Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- New Holstein City WwtfNew Holstein · 4.6 mi away · NPDES WI0020893MajorRecent violation
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #7 of 16 lakes in Manitowoc County
Nearby Lakes in Manitowoc County
Frequently asked questions about Shoe Lake
What is the water quality grade for Shoe Lake?
- Shoe Lake in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 26.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 34 ft. Surface area: 10 acres.
Is Shoe Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Shoe Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Shoe Lake?
- Shoe Lake has a maximum depth of 34 feet. The lake covers 10 acres.
What fish are in Shoe Lake?
- Fish species found in Shoe Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Trout. Shoe Lake is located in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Shoe Lake?
- Shoe Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Shoe Lake, Sisson Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Shoe Lake across LakeGrade
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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State Parks Near Shoe Lake
Other Grade B Lakes in Wisconsin
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Where this data comes from
33 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_WQX33 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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory