Silver Lake
Silver Lake in Waukesha County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 10 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 40 ft. Surface area: 217 acres.
- Clarity
- 10 ft
- Max depth
- 40 ft
- Area
- 217 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Waukesha County
Silver Lake is a 217-acre mesotrophic lake in Waukesha County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 40 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 34 other monitored lakes in Waukesha County, Silver Lake ranks #8 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-08-31. 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)
Good clarity, visible to about 10 ft. Phosphorus level: 11.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 42.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 11.8 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 42 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Silver Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Silver Lake in Waukesha 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 | 40 ft |
| Surface Area | 217 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Silver LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Silver 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 1990. 2 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.432 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.04 µg/L/yr | 6 |
County Ranking
Ranked #8 of 35 lakes in Waukesha County
Nearby Lakes in Waukesha County
Frequently asked questions about Silver Lake
What is the water quality grade for Silver Lake?
- Silver Lake in Waukesha County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 10 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 11.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 40 ft. Surface area: 217 acres.
Is Silver Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Silver Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Silver Lake?
- Silver Lake has a maximum depth of 40 feet. The lake covers 217 acres.
What fish are in Silver Lake?
- Fish species found in Silver Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Silver Lake is located in Waukesha County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Silver Lake?
- Silver Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Silver Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Silver Lake across LakeGrade
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
39 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX39 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
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
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