Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site
Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site in Polk County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 5.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 42.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 37 ft. Surface area: 1901 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Largemouth Bass as abundant on Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 5.7 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Max depth
- 37 ft
- Area
- 1,901 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site →
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Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site is a 1,901-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Polk County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 37 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality 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 54 other monitored lakes in Polk County, Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site ranks #54 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-09-08. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyElevated nutrients
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Murky, only visible to about 5.7 ft. Phosphorus level: 42.7 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 55.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.7 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 42.7 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 55 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site in Polk 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 77°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 80°F) and coldest in Sep (about 66°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 12 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR rates Largemouth Bass as abundant on Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site D from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. 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 1987. 15 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 37 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,901 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Recreation & Access
- Balsam LakePublic
- WestPublic
Named access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, snapped within 5 km. More lakes with boat ramps
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site
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: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.229 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +4.35 µg/L/yr | 6 |
County Ranking
Ranked #54 of 55 lakes in Polk County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site holds Grade D. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Polk County
Frequently asked questions about Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site
Where is Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site?
- Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site is a lake in Polk County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site?
- Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site in Polk County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 5.7 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 42.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 37 ft. Surface area: 1901 acres.
Is Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site?
- Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, from 12 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site?
- Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site has a maximum depth of 37 feet. The lake covers 1901 acres.
What fish are in Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site?
- Fish species found in Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site is located in Polk County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Largemouth Bass as abundant on Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site D from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site?
- Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Balsam Lake, West. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
22 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX22 samples · 2023–2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
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