Barrens Lake
Barrens Lake in Florence County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 13.1 ft visibility.
- Clarity
- 13.1 ft
- Mean depth
- ~29 ft est.
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Florence County
Why Barrens Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Barrens Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by WI DNR and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Barrens Lake is a lake in Florence County, Wisconsin with an estimated average depth of about 29 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. Limited fish-species data available. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2022-08-30. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Barrens Lake water quality
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Barrens Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Good clarity, visible to about 13.1 ft. Trophic State Index: 40.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 13.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 40 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Barrens Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Barrens Lake in Florence 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 Barrens Lake
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Average Depth | ~29 ft est. |
| Public Access | Yes |
Depth marked “est.” is a modeled estimate from HydroLAKES, not a measured survey. Wisconsin has not published bathymetry for Barrens 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.
Recreation & Access
- Cowboy LakePublic
- Menominee RiverPublic
- Lake Antoine (West)Public
Fishing Barrens Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +4.08 m/yr | 2 |
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
2 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Barrens Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 2 facilities have a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Ford/Kingsford Site GwcuKingsford · 3.9 mi away · NPDES MI0057428Recent violation
- Iron Mountain Kingsford Joint Sewage BoardFlorence · 4 mi away · NPDES WI0035807Recent violation
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.
Graded lakes near Barrens Lake
Barrens Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Florence County
Frequently asked questions about Barrens Lake
What is the water quality grade for Barrens Lake?
- Barrens Lake in Florence County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 13.1 ft visibility.
Is Barrens Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Barrens Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Barrens Lake?
- No published bathymetric survey covers Barrens Lake, so its depth has not been measured. The HydroLAKES global model estimates an average depth of about 29 feet, but that is a modelled estimate derived from surrounding terrain rather than a measurement on the water, so treat it as approximate.
Are there boat ramps on Barrens Lake?
- Barrens Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Cowboy Lake, Menominee River, Lake Antoine (West). Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Barrens Lake across LakeGrade
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Where this data comes from
2 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX2 samples · 2022
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)
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory