Barry County Lake Quality
Wisconsin, 14 lakes, average grade B (Good)
Barry County has 14 graded lakes — a thin enough sample that one or two stressed lakes can move the county average noticeably. Use the per-lake pages below for what actually matters. The county-wide average lands at B — solid water quality with most lakes carrying clear summer transparency and low-to-moderate phosphorus.
Most of the county's monitored lakes are shallow — under 50 feet — which means wind keeps the water column mixed all summer and sediment-bound phosphorus releases back into the surface layer whenever the bottom is disturbed. Cobb Lake Central Basin (A) is the cleanest in the county.
Quick Answers for Barry County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Cobb Lake Central Basin, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or browse the full Wisconsin regulations index.
All Lakes in Barry County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Max Depth | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cobb Lake Central Basin | A | 16 ft | - | - |
| 2 | Cobb Lake | A | 16 ft | - | - |
| 3 | Barlow Lake Central Basin; Yankee Springs Township Sec6 | A | 11 ft | - | - |
| 4 | Little Long Lake Central Basin; Prairieville Township | A | 12.5 ft | - | - |
| 5 | Long Lake Northeast Basin; Hope Twsp. | A | 11 ft | - | - |
| 6 | Crooked Lake Southwest Basin; Prairievile Township Sec12 | A | 10 ft | - | - |
| 7 | Payne Lake | B | 12 ft | - | - |
| 8 | Payne Lake North Central Basin | B | 11.5 ft | - | - |
| 9 | Barlow Lake | B | 11 ft | - | - |
| 10 | Long Lake | B | 11 ft | - | - |
| 11 | Crooked Lake | B | 10 ft | - | - |
| 12 | Wall Lake | C | 9.5 ft | - | - |
| 13 | Carter Lake | D | 4 ft | - | - |
| 14 | Carter Lake Northwest Basin | D | 4.5 ft | - | - |
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.