Spring Lake
Spring Lake in Columbia County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 83.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 32 ft. Surface area: 27 acres.
- Clarity
- 2 ft
- Max depth
- 32 ft
- Area
- 27 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Spring Lake →
Next lake in Columbia County
Spring Lake is a 27-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Columbia County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 32 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2023. 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 5 other monitored lakes in Columbia County, Spring Lake ranks #4 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2023-09-06. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Spring Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 83.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 68.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 83.3 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 68 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Spring Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Spring Lake 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Spring Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Spring Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 32 ft |
| Surface Area | 27 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Spring LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Spring 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. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2023).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Spring Lake covering fish populations, stocking, water quality, and management. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- 2018Swan and Spring lakes comprehensive survey 2018Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2018 (PDF)
- 2011Spring Lake comprehensive survey 2011Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2011 (PDF)
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.12 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -1.6 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Spring Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Pardeeville (completed 1849), built primarily for recreation on the FOX R.; gravity-type dam, 16 ft tall and 230 ft long.
- Surface area
- 312 ac
- Normal storage
- 2,050 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 3,300 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 56 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- Village Of Pardeeville
All listed purposes: Recreation;Hydroelectric.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI00113 · Operator website · Matched by proximity (0.52 km)
EPA Impairment Status
Spring 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 WI10009334 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Spring Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Sonoco Protective Solutions, Inc.Pardeeville · 0.2 mi away · NPDES WI0055328
- Pardeeville Wastewater Treatment FacilityPardeeville · 0.5 mi away · NPDES WI0021644
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 #4 of 6 lakes in Columbia County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Spring Lake holds Grade D. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Columbia County
Frequently asked questions about Spring Lake
What is the water quality grade for Spring Lake?
- Spring Lake in Columbia County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 83.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 32 ft. Surface area: 27 acres.
Is Spring Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Spring Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Spring Lake?
- Spring Lake has a maximum depth of 32 feet. The lake covers 27 acres.
What fish are in Spring Lake?
- Fish species found in Spring Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Spring Lake is located in Columbia County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Spring Lake?
- Spring Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Spring Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Spring Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Columbia County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Top lakes and where to stay in the Madison Area Lakes area
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Wisconsin River Watershed, ranked by water quality
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Wisconsin's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Spring Lake
Other Grade D Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
12 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX12 samples · 2022–2023
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)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory