South Harper Lake
Taylor County, Wisconsin72 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for South Harper Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Impaired · Mercury
- 32 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
South Harper Lake in Taylor County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. 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 →
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 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-06-16. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What South Harper Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing4 species recorded
- Deep water32 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
No readingBacteria tested: low
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.
Whether South Harper Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for South Harper Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for South Harper Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Moderate clarity, visible to about 6.8 ft. TSI 50.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 6.8ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | No reading The nutrient that most limits algae growth in freshwater. More phosphorus, more algae potential. | |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | No reading The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. | |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 50 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about South Harper Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on South Harper Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows South Harper Lake’s water-quality measurements separately. 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
Max depth
32 ft
Surface area
72 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
1 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
1.6 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,699 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- South Harper LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays 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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Follow South Harper Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing South Harper Lake
- → South Harper Lake fishing: DNR survey catch rates, species & stocking
- → South Harper Lake fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → South Harper Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from South Harper Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
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
Designated uses not supporting: Fish consumption.
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.
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. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of South Harper Lake?
- South Harper Lake in Taylor County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. 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 is a historical summary of past bacteria testing, not a current reading and not a swimming clearance. Bacteria levels can spike quickly after heavy rain, so whether South Harper Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for Wisconsin's water agency and the county health department; check their current beach 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 water quality. LakeQuality shows South Harper Lake’s water-quality measurements separately. 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 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include South Harper Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at South Harper Lake?
- South Harper Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Wisconsin's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore South Harper Lake across LakeQuality
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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)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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