White Clay Lake
Shawano County, Wisconsin236 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for White Clay Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- Curly-Leaf Pondweed
- 46 ft max depth
- Public access
White Clay Lake in Shawano County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 31.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 46 ft. Surface area: 236 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish and Largemouth Bass as abundant on White Clay Lake. DNR survey details →
White Clay Lake is a 236-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Shawano County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 46 feet. Water clarity is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 20 other monitored lakes in Shawano County, White Clay Lake ranks #16 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-04-30. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
White Clay Lake covers about 240 acres in Shawano County. It has one public boat landing. For a place on the water, look through cabin and lake-house rentals near White Clay Lake on Vrbo. For a hotel or motel room, Booking.com and Expedia both search around the lake.
What White Clay Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing4 species recorded
- Deep water46 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. White Clay Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 4A) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether White Clay 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 White Clay Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for White Clay 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 5 ft. Phosphorus 31.6 µg/L. TSI 54.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 5ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 31.6µg/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. | 54 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about White Clay Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
White Clay Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in Apr (about 52°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (52°F) to its warmest (76°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 30 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full White Clay Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish and Largemouth Bass as abundant on White Clay Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows White Clay Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 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 2004. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
Max depth
46 ft
Surface area
236 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
5 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
2.7 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
797 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- White Clay LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near White Clay Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near White Clay 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 White Clay Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 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 whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing White Clay 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 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Worsening6 years
Phosphorus
Improving-1.12 µg/L/yr5 years
EPA Impairment Status
White Clay 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 WI10001029 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Shawano County
Frequently asked questions about White Clay Lake
Where is White Clay Lake?
- White Clay Lake is a lake in Shawano County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of White Clay Lake?
- White Clay Lake in Shawano County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 31.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 46 ft. Surface area: 236 acres.
Is White Clay Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. White Clay 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 White Clay Lake?
- White Clay Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in September, from 30 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is White Clay Lake?
- White Clay Lake has a maximum depth of 46 feet. The lake covers 236 acres.
What fish are in White Clay Lake?
- Fish species found in White Clay Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. White Clay Lake is located in Shawano County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at White Clay Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Panfish and Largemouth Bass as abundant on White Clay Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows White Clay Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on White Clay Lake?
- White Clay Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include White Clay Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at White Clay Lake?
- White Clay Lake has 1 documented boat landing 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 White Clay 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 Shawano County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its readings
Lakes in the Wolf River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Wisconsin's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
More lakes in Wisconsin
Other Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
61 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX61 samples · 2020–2026
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