Balsam Lake vs Half Moon Lake
Water quality, depth, fish species, and recreation comparison.
Half Moon Lake has a higher water quality grade (A, Excellent) than Balsam Lake (A, Excellent). Both are in Polk County, Wisconsin.
A
Balsam Lake
Polk County, Wisconsin
Crystal clear, you can see 42.7 ft down.
A
Half Moon Lake
Polk County, Wisconsin
Crystal clear, you can see 50 ft down.
Side-by-Side Metrics
| Metric | Balsam Lake | Half Moon Lake |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Grade | A (Excellent) | A (Excellent) |
| Water Clarity | 42.7 ft | 50 ft |
| Phosphorus | 23.4 µg/L | 13.9 µg/L |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | No data |
| Maximum Depth | 37 ft | 60 ft |
| Surface Area | 1.9K acres | 550 acres |
| Public Access | Yes | Yes |
| Fish Species | 4 | 4 |
| Trophic State | oligotrophic | oligotrophic |
Bold value = better for that metric (lower phosphorus / chlorophyll = cleaner; higher Secchi / depth / species count = better).
Verdict
Half Moon Lake wins on overall water quality with a Grade A versus Balsam Lake's Grade A. Water clarity: 50 ft vs 42.7 ft. For fishing diversity, Half Moon Lake also leads with 4 species.