Barnes County Lake Quality
Wisconsin, 4 lakes, average grade C (Fair)
Only 4 lakes in Barnes County carry an active grade. The county-level summary is therefore representative of those specific lakes, not necessarily of every water body in the county. The county average is C — the middle of the rubric, with one or two lakes pulling the average up or down depending on year.
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. Lake Ashtabula (B) is the cleanest in the county.
Quick Answers for Barnes County
Planning a trip? Check special fishing regulations for Lake Ashtabula, whether the fish are safe to eat, and the best times to fish — or browse the full Wisconsin regulations index.
All Lakes in Barnes County
| Rank | Lake | Grade | Clarity | Max Depth | Phosphorus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lake Ashtabula | B | 3.4 ft | - | - |
| 2 | Lake Ashtabula | B | 6.6 ft | - | - |
| 3 | Moon Lake | C | 4.4 ft | - | - |
| 4 | Clausen Springs Lake | C | - | - | - |
Source: EPA National Aquatic Resource Surveys, 2026.