Silver Lake
Silver Lake in Waushara County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 10.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 50 ft. Surface area: 328 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Largemouth Bass as abundant on Silver Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 10.2 ft
- Max depth
- 50 ft
- Area
- 328 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
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Silver Lake is a 328-acre mesotrophic lake in Waushara County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 50 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 15 other monitored lakes in Waushara County, Silver Lake ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-07. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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 10.2 ft. Phosphorus level: 14.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 14.9 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Silver Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Silver Lake in Waushara 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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Wisconsin DNR rates Largemouth Bass as abundant on Silver Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Silver Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 4 years of monitoring is stable. 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. Monitored by volunteers since 2001. 6 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 50 ft |
| Surface Area | 328 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Silver LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
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.
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.75 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.55 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Silver Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Wi Dnr Wild Rose Fish HatcheryWild Rose · 2.2 mi away · NPDES WI0022756Recent violation
- Wild Rose Wastewater Treatment FacilityWild Rose · 1.6 mi away · NPDES WI0060071
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 #2 of 16 lakes in Waushara County
Nearby Lakes in Waushara County
Frequently asked questions about Silver Lake
Where is Silver Lake?
- Silver Lake is a lake in Waushara County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Silver Lake?
- Silver Lake in Waushara County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 10.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 50 ft. Surface area: 328 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 50 feet. The lake covers 328 acres.
What fish are in Silver Lake?
- Fish species found in Silver Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Silver Lake is located in Waushara County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Silver Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Largemouth Bass as abundant on Silver Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Silver Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 4 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
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 LakeQuality
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Where this data comes from
9 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX9 samples · 2021–2026
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)
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