Swan Lake
Swan Lake in Columbia County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 4.8 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 82 ft. Surface area: 407 acres.
- Clarity
- 4.8 ft
- Max depth
- 82 ft
- Area
- 407 acres
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Columbia County
Why Swan Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: 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 Swan Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. 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.
Swan Lake is a 407-acre lake in Columbia County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 82 feet. The lake supports 5 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 2026-05-26. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Swan Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Swan Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Murky, only visible to about 4.8 ft. Trophic State Index: 55.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 55 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Swan Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Swan 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Swan 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 | 82 ft |
| Surface Area | 407 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Swan LakePublic
- Lake George ParkPublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Swan 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. Monitored by volunteers since 1988. 12 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
EPA Impairment Status
Swan 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 WI10000772 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Swan Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits, including 1 classified by the EPA as major discharger. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Portage Wastewater Treatment FacilityPortage · 2 mi away · NPDES WI0020427MajorRecent violation
- Wisconsin Power & Light Co ColumbiaPortage · 4.6 mi away · NPDES WI0002780Recent 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 Swan Lake
Swan Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Columbia County
Frequently asked questions about Swan Lake
What is the water quality grade for Swan Lake?
- Swan Lake in Columbia County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 4.8 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 82 ft. Surface area: 407 acres.
Is Swan Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Swan Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Swan Lake?
- Swan Lake has a maximum depth of 82 feet. The lake covers 407 acres.
What fish are in Swan Lake?
- Fish species found in Swan Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Swan Lake is located in Columbia County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Swan Lake?
- Swan Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Swan Lake, Lake George Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Swan Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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
Wisconsin's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Swan Lake
Other Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
9 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2025–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX9 samples · 2025–2026
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