Balsam Lake

Balsam Lake carries a solid B grade — strong on most parameters, with measurements that hold up well across the summer season. Sub-grades cluster within a single letter of each other, which usually means the lake is in stable trophic balance rather than fighting one specific stressor.

Mesotrophic conditions dominate at Balsam Lake: enough nutrients for a healthy fishery, not so much that algal blooms become a chronic problem. A maximum depth of 37 ft puts Balsam Lake in the middle of Wisconsin's depth distribution. Balsam Lake covers 1,901 acres alongside partial shoreline records, large enough that conditions can vary meaningfully between bays. Balsam Lake ranks 24 of 74 in Polk County — solidly in the upper half of the local distribution.

Balsam Lake is on the Wisconsin infested-waters list for zebra mussels — boaters should follow clean-drain-dry protocols when moving gear to or from the lake. Walleye are documented at Balsam Lake, one of 4 fish species on record for the lake. A documented public access point at Balsam Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.