Spring Lake
Portage County, Wisconsin38 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Spring Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- 2 aquatic invasives
- 42 ft max depth
- Public access
Spring Lake in Portage County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. 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 →
Spring Lake is a 38-acre mesotrophic lake in Portage County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 42 feet. 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Spring Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
- Fishing3 species recorded
- Deep water42 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Spring Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Spring 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 Spring Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Spring 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 8.8 ft. Phosphorus 29.9 µg/L. TSI 49.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 8.8ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 29.9µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| 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. | 49 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Spring Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Spring Lake typically sits around 61°F at the surface in September. 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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (42°F) to its warmest (72°F).
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 water quality. LakeQuality shows Spring Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, 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
Max depth
42 ft
Surface area
38 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
6 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
1 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,027 ft
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
Stays via Stay22
Stays 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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Fish Species
Click a species to see every 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 (2022–2026).
Water clarity
Improving5 years
Phosphorus
Improving-2.89 µg/L/yr4 years
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
Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life, Recreation.
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10000440 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Portage County
Frequently asked questions about Spring Lake
Where is Spring Lake?
- Spring Lake is a lake in Portage County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Spring Lake?
- Spring Lake in Portage County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. 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?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Spring Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Spring Lake?
- Spring Lake typically sits around 61°F at the surface in September, 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 water quality. LakeQuality shows Spring Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, 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.
Can I fish at Spring Lake?
- Spring Lake has 2 documented boat landings 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 Spring Lake across LakeQuality
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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)
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
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