Silver Lake West Basin
Silver Lake West Basin in Columbia County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 8.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 23.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 42 ft. Surface area: 70 acres.
- Clarity
- 8.8 ft
- Max depth
- 42 ft
- Area
- 70 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Columbia County
Silver Lake West Basin is a 70-acre mesotrophic lake in Columbia County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 42 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 5 other monitored lakes in Columbia County, Silver Lake West Basin ranks #2 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2022-08-11. Grade methodology: LakeGrade 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)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.8 ft. Phosphorus level: 23.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 48.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 23.2 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Silver Lake West Basin
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Silver Lake West Basin in Columbia 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 | 42 ft |
| Surface Area | 70 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Sunset ParkPublic
- Silver LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Silver Lake West Basin
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. 2 stations on file (most recent sample 2022).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -3.5 m/yr | 3 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -5.3 µg/L/yr | 3 |
EPA Impairment Status
Silver Lake West Basin 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 WI10033580 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (2.39 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Silver Lake West Basin under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Goetz Assocaites IncNorth Freedom · 3.5 mi away · NPDES WI0035998Recent violation
- J L Oil IncPortage · 1 mi away · NPDES WI0030775
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 6 lakes in Columbia County
Nearby Lakes in Columbia County
Frequently asked questions about Silver Lake West Basin
What is the water quality grade for Silver Lake West Basin?
- Silver Lake West Basin in Columbia County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 8.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 23.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 42 ft. Surface area: 70 acres.
Is Silver Lake West Basin safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Silver Lake West Basin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Silver Lake West Basin?
- Silver Lake West Basin has a maximum depth of 42 feet. The lake covers 70 acres.
What fish are in Silver Lake West Basin?
- Fish species found in Silver Lake West Basin include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Silver Lake West Basin is located in Columbia County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Silver Lake West Basin?
- Silver Lake West Basin has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Sunset Park, Silver Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Silver Lake West Basin across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
14 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX14 samples · 2020–2022
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
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