Tainter Lake
Dunn County, Wisconsin1,605 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Tainter Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- 2 aquatic invasives
- 37 ft max depth
- Public access
Tainter Lake in Dunn County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 3.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 121.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 37 ft. Surface area: 1605 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Walleye as common on Tainter Lake. DNR survey details →
Tainter Lake is a 1,605-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Dunn County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 37 feet. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Smallmouth Bass. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 2 other monitored lakes in Dunn County, Tainter Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-07-11. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Tainter Lake covers about 1,600 acres in Dunn County. It has 3 public boat landings, so a lakefront rental is not the only way to get a boat on the water. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Tainter Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What Tainter Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch3 documented ramps
- Fishing5 species recorded
- Deep water37 ft surveyed max depth
- Big water1,605 acres
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. Tainter Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Tainter 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 Tainter Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Tainter Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Murky, only visible to about 3.7 ft. Phosphorus 121.5 µg/L. TSI 66.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 3.7ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 122µg/L | Poor 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. | 66 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Tainter Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Tainter Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in Sep (about 65°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (65°F) to its warmest (77°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 44 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Tainter Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Tainter Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was very high (1,629,296 cells/mL) on July 18, 2026.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Wisconsin DNR lists Walleye as common on Tainter Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Tainter Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is stable. 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 1989. 11 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Tainter Lake covering fish populations, stocking, water quality, and management. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- 2022Tainter Lake spring survey, 2022Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2022 (PDF)
Lake Details
Max depth
37 ft
Surface area
1,605 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
1,659 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
7.8 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
853 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Chapany ParkPublic
- NorthwestPublic
- Lambs Creek ParkPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Tainter Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Tainter Lake in Dunn 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 readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Tainter Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Tainter Lake
Prices for Oct 16–18, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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 trip? Cabins and lodging at Tainter Lake → · more Wisconsin lake trips
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Tainter 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: Stable
Based on 7 years of monitoring (2020–2026).
Water clarity
Stable7 years
Phosphorus
Stable-0.34 µg/L/yr7 years
EPA Impairment Status
Tainter 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 WI10006634 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Dunn County
Frequently asked questions about Tainter Lake
Where is Tainter Lake?
- Tainter Lake is a lake in Dunn County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Tainter Lake?
- Tainter Lake in Dunn County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 3.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 121.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 37 ft. Surface area: 1605 acres.
Is Tainter Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Tainter 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 Tainter Lake?
- Tainter Lake typically sits around 65°F at the surface in September, from 44 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Tainter Lake?
- Tainter Lake has a maximum depth of 37 feet. The lake covers 1605 acres.
What fish are in Tainter Lake?
- Fish species found in Tainter Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Tainter Lake is located in Dunn County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Tainter Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Walleye as common on Tainter Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Tainter Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Does Tainter Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Tainter Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was very high (1,629,296 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Wisconsin's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Tainter Lake?
- Tainter Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Chapany Park, Northwest, Lambs Creek Park. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Tainter Lake?
- Tainter Lake has 3 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 Tainter Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Dunn County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its readings
Wisconsin's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Other Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Compare Tainter Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
385 measurements from 4 monitoring stations, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX385 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
Monitoring station identifiers (4)
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