Bark Lake
Bark Lake in Washington County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 5.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 33 µg/L. Maximum depth: 34 ft. Surface area: 65 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Bark Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 5.5 ft
- Max depth
- 34 ft
- Area
- 65 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
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Bark Lake is a 65-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Washington County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 34 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2025. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Compared to the 12 other monitored lakes in Washington County, Bark Lake ranks #6 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-09-15. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Murky, only visible to about 5.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 33 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 54.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 33 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 54 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Bark Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Bark Lake in Washington 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Bark Lake
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Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Bark Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Bark Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. 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 2015. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 34 ft |
| Surface Area | 65 acres |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Bark Lake
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: → Stable
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.047 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | +0.15 µg/L/yr | 3 |
County Ranking
Ranked #6 of 13 lakes in Washington County
Nearby Lakes in Washington County
Frequently asked questions about Bark Lake
Where is Bark Lake?
- Bark Lake is a lake in Washington County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it B for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Bark Lake?
- Bark Lake in Washington County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 5.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 33 µg/L. Maximum depth: 34 ft. Surface area: 65 acres.
Is Bark Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Bark Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Bark Lake?
- Bark Lake has a maximum depth of 34 feet. The lake covers 65 acres.
What fish are in Bark Lake?
- Fish species found in Bark Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Bark Lake is located in Washington County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Bark Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Bark Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Bark Lake B from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Explore Bark Lake across LakeQuality
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
75 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX75 samples · 2020–2025
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes