Balsam Lake

On the LakeGrade scale Balsam Lake grades a B, with clarity at 8.8 ft and 19 µg/L of phosphorus placing it above the Wisconsin median. Clarity is the limiting factor — phosphorus is reasonable but suspended particles or algal cells keep water transparency below Wisconsin norms.

A TSI near 46 places Balsam Lake in the mesotrophic band — moderate productivity, with seasonal swings between clearer spring water and richer late-summer conditions. The lake's maximum depth is not yet documented in state morphometric records — context for its physical structure remains limited. The lake's surface area is not consistently recorded across state datasets — physical context remains partial. Balsam Lake ranks 20 of 47 in Washburn County — solidly in the upper half of the local distribution.

Balsam Lake has no invasive species recorded in Wisconsin state databases as of 2026, though prevention practices still apply at all access points. The state fisheries records do not list documented species for Balsam Lake, which usually reflects a lack of formal fisheries survey work rather than an empty lake. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.