Silver Lake

Silver Lake grades an F: every scored parameter (clarity) rates poorly, placing it among the most stressed lakes monitored in Wisconsin.

At a TSI of 61, Silver Lake reads as eutrophic — nutrient-rich enough that summer algal growth and reduced clarity are expected, not unusual. Silver Lake is a shallow lake at 3 ft maximum depth, which means it warms quickly, mixes constantly, and amplifies nutrient inputs. The lake is compact at 85 acres, with partial shoreline records and little volume to buffer nutrient inputs. Silver Lake ranks 30 of 34 in Walworth County — at the lower end of the locally monitored distribution.

Silver Lake carries an invasive watermilfoil record — boat-launch decontamination and shoreline care matter more here than at uninfested lakes. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Silver Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. Monitoring depth is thin here: the LakeGrade rubric is applied to a small number of sample years, and the grade will be revised as more data accumulates.