Petenwell Lake

Lake Petenwell is an artificial lake on the Wisconsin River in central Wisconsin. It is located in Adams, Juneau, and Wood counties next to Castle Rock Lake. It covers over 23,000 acres (93 km²) and is 42 feet (13 m) deep.

Petenwell Lake
Dam which forms Lake Petenwell
Petenwell Lake Show map of Wisconsin Petenwell Lake Show map of the United States
Location	Adams / Juneau / Wood counties, Wisconsin, US
Coordinates	44°08′06″N 89°58′16″W
Type	artificial lake
Basin countries	United States
Surface area	23,173 acres (9,378 ha)[1]
Max. depth	42 ft (13 m)
Surface elevation	892 ft (272 m)[1]

Lake Petenwell is Wisconsin's second largest lake entirely within in borders at 23,040 acres (93.2 km²) or approximately 36 square miles, behind Lake Winnebago. It was created in 1948 by the Wisconsin River Power Company with the construction of a dam across the Wisconsin River near Necedah.^[2] It has a maximum depth of 42 feet (13 m) and is used for water skiing, sailing and fishing. Private lakefront property is very limited as most of the virgin shoreline is undeveloped forest. Wildlife includes wintering bald eagles. Game fish include walleye, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, sturgeon, catfish, panfish, and muskellunge.

The area around the lake has restaurants, a community theater, a golf course and two casinos.

In 1973, the Juneau County extension resource agent submitted a letter on behalf of the County Industrial-Recreation, and Agriculture and Education Committees to the Wisconsin Power and Light Company requesting a nuclear power plant be constructed near the lake.^[3]

Algae

Blue-green algae was reported in the lake in 2013.^[4] In 2019, Adams County website stated that the beaches were not closed due to algae, and that the situation was being monitored.