Silver Creek Estuary Lake
Green Lake County, Wisconsin7,920 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Silver Creek Estuary Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Hypereutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- 4 aquatic invasives
- 236 ft max depth
- Public access
Silver Creek Estuary Lake in Green Lake County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Phosphorus: 125.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 236 ft. Surface area: 7920 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Smallmouth Bass as common on Silver Creek Estuary Lake. DNR survey details →
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. 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Silver Creek Estuary Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
- Beach3 documented beaches
- Fishing7 species recorded
- Deep water236 ft surveyed max depth
- Big water7,920 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.
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.
Whether Silver Creek Estuary 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 Silver Creek Estuary Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Silver Creek Estuary Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
No clarity data. Phosphorus 125.5 µg/L. TSI 74.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | No reading How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. | |
| Total phosphorus | 126µg/L | Poor 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. | 74 | Hypereutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Ask about Silver Creek Estuary Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Wisconsin DNR lists Smallmouth Bass as common on Silver Creek Estuary Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Silver Creek Estuary 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. 85 stations on file (most recent sample 2026).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
Max depth
236 ft
Surface area
7,920 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Recreation & Access
- Klaver StreetPublic
- Sunset ParkPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays 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 readings cover 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
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Silver Creek Estuary Lake
- → Silver Creek Estuary Lake fishing: DNR survey catch rates, species & stocking
- → Silver Creek Estuary Lake fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → Silver Creek Estuary Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from Silver Creek Estuary Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
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
Improving5 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+16.63 µg/L/yr7 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-1.58 µg/L/yr4 years
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 4A).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life, Recreation.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10000969 · Official waterbody report
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.
Nearby Lakes in Green Lake County
Frequently asked questions about Silver Creek Estuary Lake
Where is Silver Creek Estuary Lake?
- Silver Creek Estuary Lake is a lake in Green Lake County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Silver Creek Estuary Lake?
- Silver Creek Estuary Lake in Green Lake County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. 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 is a historical summary of past bacteria testing, not a current reading and not a swimming clearance. Bacteria levels can spike quickly after heavy rain, so whether Silver Creek Estuary Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for Wisconsin's water agency and the county health department; check their current beach 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.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Silver Creek Estuary Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Smallmouth Bass as common on Silver Creek Estuary Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Silver Creek Estuary 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 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.
Can I fish at Silver Creek Estuary Lake?
- Silver Creek Estuary Lake has 2 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 Silver Creek Estuary 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 Green Lake County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its readings
Wisconsin's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Hypereutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Compare Silver Creek Estuary Lake With Nearby Lakes
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)
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
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