Rinehart Lake

Portage County, Wisconsin · WBIC 278600

The DNR lists this lake's watershed (South Branch Little Wolf River) as suspect or infected with VHS, a fish virus. The listing covers the watershed, not a test of this lake. About VHS

Size

42 acres

Max depth

25 ft

DNR lake type

Simple, Warm, clear water color

Water clarity

17 ft

Clear, measured Jul 2026

A warm-water lake type: the DNR groups it with lakes that warm up through summer. This describes the lake type in general, not this lake in particular.

Outline

Numbered dots are boat landings; tap one for directions. The list below has the same numbers. Drawn from the DNR's 24K hydrography (surveyed 1986), so the shape is approximate and a landing can sit a little off the shore. Open the DNR lake map.

Water clarity

17 ft Secchi depthClear

Last measured Jul 24, 2026. 143 readings on record, 1993 to 2026.

Typical summer clarity (June to September): 17.5 ft, clear, from 38 readings (2012 to 2026).

Secchi depth is how far down a white disk stays visible. A bigger number means clearer water. Clear means a Secchi depth of 10 feet or more, moderate 5 to 10 feet, low under 5 feet.

Wisconsin DNR water monitoring (volunteer and staff), via the Water Quality Portal; station Rinehart Lake at Deepest Point. Checked Oct 23, 2026.

Water temperature

Last measured Jul 24, 2026, too long ago to show as the current temperature.

A typical year Modeled estimate

  • Ice goes outabout Apr 14 (Apr 4 to Apr 24)
  • Surface reaches 48°Fabout Apr 22 (Apr 15 to Apr 29)
  • Surface reaches 64°Fabout May 13 (May 8 to May 24)
  • June surface72°F, usually 71 to 74°F
  • July surface78°F, usually 76 to 79°F
  • August surface74°F, usually 72 to 76°F

Forms a warm top layer around Apr 29, lasting about 137 days.

A computer model of this lake's typical weather and water, built from 15 years, 2005 to 2019. Ranges show the middle half of years. The model was not calibrated against measured temperatures for this lake. It is an estimate, not a measurement.

Measured: Wisconsin DNR via the Water Quality Portal (checked Oct 23, 2026). Modeled: U.S. Geological Survey lake temperature data release (doi:10.5066/P9CA6XP8).

Today at the lake

Loading today's forecast…

Forecast: National Weather Service (no endorsement implied). Sunrise, sunset and moon phase are calculated. The moon phase can be a day off.

Boat landings

Wisconsin DNR public boat access sites. Checked Oct 23, 2026.

More lakes in Portage County

All Portage County lakes

Where this comes from

  • Size, depth and lake typeWisconsin DNR lake classifications, checked Oct 23, 2026
  • OutlineWisconsin DNR 24K hydrography, checked Oct 23, 2026
  • Regulations linkWisconsin DNR fishing regulations (linked, not restated), checked Oct 23, 2026
  • Boat landingsWisconsin DNR public boat access sites, checked Oct 23, 2026
  • Water clarityWisconsin DNR water monitoring, via the Water Quality Portal, checked Oct 23, 2026
  • Typical-year temperatureU.S. Geological Survey lake temperature model (modeled estimate), checked Oct 23, 2026
  • VHS statusWisconsin DNR VHS status by watershed, checked Oct 24, 2026
  • Depth map linkWisconsin DNR lake maps list, checked Oct 24, 2026

See data sources for what each source covers, and about for how the numbers are matched to lakes.

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