Silver Creek Estuary Lake
Silver Creek Estuary Lake in Green Lake County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 125.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 236 ft. Surface area: 7920 acres.
- Max depth
- 236 ft
- Area
- 7,920 acres
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Silver Creek Estuary Lake →
Next lake in Green Lake County
Silver Creek Estuary Lake is a 7,920-acre highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Green Lake County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 236 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 7 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Smallmouth Bass. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings and 3 public beaches. Compared to the 6 other monitored lakes in Green Lake County, Silver Creek Estuary Lake ranks #7 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-10. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyBacteria C · advisory
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.
Based on E. coli testing, Silver Creek Estuary Lake occasionally exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 7.8% of 180 samples across 9 seasons.
This is a historical summary of past testing, not a current condition — bacteria levels change quickly, especially after rain. Always check Wisconsin’s current beach and health-department advisories before swimming.
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 125.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 74.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 125.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 74 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Silver Creek Estuary Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Silver Creek Estuary Lake in Green Lake 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Silver Creek Estuary Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Silver Creek Estuary Lake
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Planning a trip? Cabins and lodging at Silver Creek Estuary Lake → · more Wisconsin lake trips
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 236 ft |
| Surface Area | 7,920 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Klaver StreetPublic
- Sunset ParkPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Silver Creek Estuary 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. 85 stations on file (most recent sample 2026).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.117 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +16.63 µg/L/yr | 7 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -1.58 µg/L/yr | 4 |
EPA Impairment Status
Silver Creek Estuary 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 WI10009008 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.58 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Silver Creek Estuary 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.
- Ripon Wastewater Treatment FacilityRipon · 4.2 mi away · NPDES WI0021032MajorRecent 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 7 lakes in Green Lake County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Silver Creek Estuary Lake holds Grade D. 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 Green Lake County
Frequently asked questions about Silver Creek Estuary Lake
What is the water quality grade for Silver Creek Estuary Lake?
- Silver Creek Estuary Lake in Green Lake County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Phosphorus: 125.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 236 ft. Surface area: 7920 acres.
Is Silver Creek Estuary Lake safe to swim in?
- Based on E. coli testing, Silver Creek Estuary Lake occasionally exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 7.8% of 180 samples across 9 seasons. That works out to a bacteria swim-safety grade of C — a historical summary of past testing, not a current reading. Silver Creek Estuary Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Bacteria levels can spike quickly after heavy rain, so always check Wisconsin's current beach and health-department advisories before you swim.
How deep is Silver Creek Estuary Lake?
- Silver Creek Estuary Lake has a maximum depth of 236 feet. The lake covers 7920 acres.
What fish are in Silver Creek Estuary Lake?
- Fish species found in Silver Creek Estuary Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Trout, Walleye, Catfish. Silver Creek Estuary Lake is located in Green Lake County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Silver Creek Estuary Lake?
- Silver Creek Estuary Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Klaver Street, Sunset Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Silver Creek Estuary Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
131 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX131 samples · 2024–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Turbidity in Water
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
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