Seneca Lake
Vilas County, Wisconsin · WBIC 1016500
Size
17 acres
Max depth
10 ft
DNR lake type
Simple, Warm, dark water color
Water clarity
4.6 ft
Low, measured Aug 2022
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
Drawn from the DNR's 24K hydrography (surveyed 1982), so the shape is approximate and a landing can sit a little off the shore. Open the DNR lake map.
Water clarity
4.6 ft Secchi depthLow
Last measured Aug 30, 2022. 5 readings on record, 2009 to 2022.
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 Seneca Lake - Deep Hole. Checked Oct 23, 2026.
Water temperature
A typical year Modeled estimate
- Ice goes outabout Apr 21 (Apr 9 to Apr 26)
- Surface reaches 48°Fabout Apr 26 (Apr 18 to May 5)
- Surface reaches 64°Fabout May 11 (May 8 to May 16)
- June surface72°F, usually 70 to 73°F
- July surface78°F, usually 76 to 79°F
- August surface73°F, usually 71 to 74°F
Forms a warm top layer around May 21, lasting about 68 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.
Modeled: U.S. Geological Survey lake temperature data release (doi:10.5066/P9CA6XP8).
Today at the lake
Forecast: National Weather Service (no endorsement implied). Sunrise, sunset and moon phase are calculated. The moon phase can be a day off.
More lakes in Vilas County
- Perch Lake0.7 miles away
- Lotus Lake0.7 miles away
- Watersmeet Lake1.0 miles away
- Lake Mary1.2 miles away
- Sunset Lake1.2 miles away
- Rice Lake1.8 miles away
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
- 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
See data sources for what each source covers, and about for how the numbers are matched to lakes.
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