Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site
Polk County, Wisconsin1,901 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- 3 aquatic invasives
- 37 ft max depth
- Public access
Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site in Polk County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. 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 →
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. 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site covers about 1,900 acres in Polk County. It has one public boat landing. For a place on the water, look through cabin and lake-house rentals near Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site on Vrbo. For a hotel or motel room, Booking.com and Expedia both search around the lake.
What Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing4 species recorded
- Deep water37 ft surveyed max depth
- Big water1,901 acres
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyElevated nutrients
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site is safe to swim in today is a call for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Murky, only visible to about 5.7 ft. Phosphorus 42.7 µg/L. TSI 55.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 5.7ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 42.7µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | No reading The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. | |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 55 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site typically sits around 66°F at the surface in September. 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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (66°F) to its warmest (80°F).
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 water quality. LakeQuality shows Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site’s water-quality measurements separately, 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
Max depth
37 ft
Surface area
1,901 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Recreation & Access
- WestPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays 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 readings cover 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
Prices for Oct 16–18, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Follow Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site
- → Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site fishing: DNR survey catch rates, species & stocking
- → Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site? (mercury & PFAS guide)
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: Worsening
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Worsening6 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+4.35 µg/L/yr6 years
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. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site?
- Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site in Polk County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. 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?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site?
- Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site typically sits around 66°F at the surface in September, 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 water quality. LakeQuality shows Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site’s water-quality measurements separately, 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 West. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site?
- Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Wisconsin's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Balsam Lake Little Balsam Site across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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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)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from and data sources.
Other records on this page
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory