Barnes Lake
Barnes Lake in Carver County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 164.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 82 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 1 ft
- Typical in August
- 76°F
- Mean depth
- ~11 ft est.
- Type
- Hypereutrophic
- Public access
- No
Grade F measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Barnes Lake →
Next lake in Carver County
Barnes Lake is a highly nutrient-loaded hypereutrophic lake in Carver County, Minnesota with an estimated average depth of about 11 feet. Water quality is graded F based on 2 sampling years through 2023. Limited fish-species data available. No public access — the lake is private or restricted. Compared to the 37 other monitored lakes in Carver County, Barnes Lake ranks #38 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2023-10-11. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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.
Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom
Water Quality Grade: F (Algae-prone)
Very murky, less than 1 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 164.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 82 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 76.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 164.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 82 µg/L | Poor |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 76 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Barnes Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Barnes Lake in Carver County, Minnesota — 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 grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Barnes Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Barnes Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Barnes Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 76°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in Oct (about 52°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 16 field readings (2023–2023) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Barnes Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Depth | ~11 ft est. |
| Public Access | No |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled estimate from HydroLAKES, not a measured survey. Minnesota has not published bathymetry for Barnes Lake.
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth here is modelled, not surveyed — HydroLAKES v1.0 estimates lake depth from surrounding terrain rather than from soundings. Treat it as an approximation, and prefer a state bathymetric survey where one exists.
Fishing Barnes Lake
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Barnes Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Norwood WwtfNorwood (Subdivision) · 1.2 mi away · NPDES MN0024392
- HamburgCarver County · 4.6 mi away · NPDES MN0025585
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #38 of 38 lakes in Carver County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Barnes Lake holds Grade F. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Carver County
Frequently asked questions about Barnes Lake
What is the water quality grade for Barnes Lake?
- Barnes Lake in Carver County, Minnesota has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Water clarity: 1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 164.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 82 µg/L.
Is Barnes Lake safe to swim in?
- Algae and nutrients are often high — check current advisories before swimming. Skip the water if you see scum or a paint-like bloom. Barnes Lake has a water quality grade of F (Algae-prone). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 82 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Barnes Lake?
- Barnes Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August, from 16 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2023–2023). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Barnes Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Barnes Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 11 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
Explore Barnes Lake across LakeGrade
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Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
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Where this data comes from
16 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA16 samples · 2023
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Two Reagent Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder