Unknown Lake
Unknown Lake in Shawano County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14.8 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 5 ft
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Shawano County
Unknown Lake is a mesotrophic lake in Shawano County, Wisconsin. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2022. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 20 other monitored lakes in Shawano County, Unknown Lake ranks #15 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2022-09-14. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Unknown 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.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Murky, only visible to about 5 ft. Phosphorus level: 14.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 48.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 14.8 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 48 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Unknown Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Unknown Lake in Shawano 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 Unknown 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 →
Recreation & Access
- Kolpack LakePublic
Fishing Unknown Lake
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
3 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Unknown Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Matsche Farm IncAlmon, Town Of · 2.3 mi away · NPDES WI0059544Recent violation
- Olson Dairy Farms, Inc.Birnamwood · 3.9 mi away · NPDES WI0066583
- Strassburg Creek DairyAlmon, Town Of · 4.5 mi away · NPDES WI0063967
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 #15 of 21 lakes in Shawano County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Unknown Lake holds Grade B. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Shawano County
Frequently asked questions about Unknown Lake
What is the water quality grade for Unknown Lake?
- Unknown Lake in Shawano County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 14.8 µg/L.
Is Unknown Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Unknown Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Unknown Lake?
- Unknown Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Kolpack Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Unknown Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Shawano County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Wolf River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Wisconsin's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Wisconsin
Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
9 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX9 samples · 2022
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
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