South Harper Lake
South Harper Lake in Taylor County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 6.8 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 32 ft. Surface area: 72 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on South Harper Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 6.8 ft
- Max depth
- 32 ft
- Area
- 72 acres
- Public access
- Yes
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Why South Harper Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For South Harper Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by WI DNR and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
South Harper Lake is a 72-acre lake in Taylor County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 32 feet. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-06-16. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedBacteria A
Based on E. coli testing, South Harper Lake never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 15 samples across 4 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.
Water quality measurements for South Harper Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 6.8 ft. Trophic State Index: 50.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 50 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near South Harper Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near South Harper Lake in Taylor 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.
Top-rated places to stay near South Harper Lake
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Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on South Harper Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on South Harper Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter. 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 2025. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 32 ft |
| Surface Area | 72 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Lakeview ParkPublic
- South Harper 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 South Harper 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.
EPA Impairment Status
South Harper Lake 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 WI10003458 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of South Harper Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Rib Lake Village OfRib Lake · 4.3 mi away · NPDES WI0029017Recent 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.
Graded lakes near South Harper Lake
South Harper Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Taylor County
Frequently asked questions about South Harper Lake
Where is South Harper Lake?
- South Harper Lake is a lake in Taylor County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — there is not enough recent sampling to assign a letter.
What is the water quality grade for South Harper Lake?
- South Harper Lake in Taylor County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 6.8 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 32 ft. Surface area: 72 acres.
Is South Harper Lake safe to swim in?
- Based on E. coli testing, South Harper Lake never exceeded the EPA safe-swimming threshold (235 MPN/100mL) — on 0% of 15 samples across 4 seasons. That works out to a bacteria swim-safety grade of A — a historical summary of past testing, not a current reading. South Harper Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Bacteria levels can spike quickly after heavy rain, so always check Wisconsin's current beach and health-department advisories before you swim.
How deep is South Harper Lake?
- South Harper Lake has a maximum depth of 32 feet. The lake covers 72 acres.
What fish are in South Harper Lake?
- Fish species found in South Harper Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Walleye. South Harper Lake is located in Taylor County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at South Harper Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on South Harper Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on South Harper Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on South Harper Lake?
- South Harper Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lakeview Park, South Harper Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
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Where this data comes from
1 measurement from 1 monitoring station, 2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX1 sample · 2025
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