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 and is deep.
Lake Petenwell is Wisconsin's second largest lake entirely within its borders at 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. It has a maximum depth of 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.