Spring Lake
Spring Lake in Portage County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 8.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 29.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 42 ft. Surface area: 38 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Spring Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 8.8 ft
- Typical in August
- 63°F
- Max depth
- 42 ft
- Area
- 38 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Spring Lake is a 38-acre mesotrophic lake in Portage County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 42 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Trout. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 13 other monitored lakes in Portage County, Spring Lake ranks #12 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-22. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 8.8 ft. Phosphorus level: 29.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 49.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 8.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 29.9 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Spring Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Spring Lake in Portage 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 Spring Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Spring Lake typically sits around 63°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 68°F. Usually warmest in Jun (about 72°F) and coldest in Apr (about 42°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 51 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Spring Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Spring Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Spring Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is improving. 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 2011. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2026).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 42 ft |
| Surface Area | 38 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Spring Lake - NorthPublic
- Spring Lake - SouthPublic
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 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.
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.713 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -2.89 µg/L/yr | 4 |
EPA Impairment Status
Spring Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 4A).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10000440 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #12 of 14 lakes in Portage County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Spring Lake holds Grade C. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Portage County
Frequently asked questions about Spring Lake
Where is Spring Lake?
- Spring Lake is a lake in Portage County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Spring Lake?
- Spring Lake in Portage County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 8.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 29.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 42 ft. Surface area: 38 acres.
Is Spring Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Spring Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Spring Lake?
- Spring Lake typically sits around 63°F at the surface in August, from 51 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Spring Lake?
- Spring Lake has a maximum depth of 42 feet. The lake covers 38 acres.
What fish are in Spring Lake?
- Fish species found in Spring Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Trout. Spring Lake is located in Portage County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Spring Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Spring Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Spring Lake C from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Spring Lake?
- Spring Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Spring Lake - North, Spring Lake - South. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Spring Lake across LakeQuality
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Where this data comes from
32 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX32 samples · 2022–2026
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
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