Barrett Lake
Grant County, MinnesotaLimited DataEutrophic
On the scoring rubric Barrett Lake grades a D: clarity at 4.0 ft and phosphorus readings still being added keep it in the lower bracket for Grant County.
Eutrophic conditions are the baseline here: clarity drops noticeably in late summer, and dissolved oxygen near the bottom can become a concern. The lake bottoms out at 28 ft — a moderate depth that supports a warm-water fishery without the year-round cold refuge a deeper basin provides. At 530 acres, Barrett Lake fits the Minnesota median for monitored lakes, with 6.1 miles of shoreline. Among the 10 graded lakes in Grant County, Barrett Lake sits at rank 4, above the county median.
Barrett Lake is on the Minnesota infested-waters list for zebra mussels — boaters should follow clean-drain-dry protocols when moving gear to or from the lake. The fishery includes walleye among the lake's 23 documented species — a notable draw for Minnesota anglers. Public access is available — the lake is on the Minnesota PCA public-access list. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2024-09-03. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Swimming not recommended, poor water quality with high algae risk
Water Quality Grade: D, Poor
Murky, only visible to about 4 ft. Trophic State Index: 57.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 57 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 28 ft |
| Average Depth | 8.5 ft |
| Surface Area | 529.63 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 6.1 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 80% |
| Public Access | Yes |
Fish Species
Click a species to see all Minnesota and Wisconsin lakes where it is found.
→ Best fishing times for Barrett Lake (14-day solunar calendar)
→ Is it safe to eat fish from Barrett Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
→ Barrett Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
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: ↑ Improving
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.144 m/yr | 5 |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #4 of 10 lakes in Grant County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Barrett Lake holds Grade D. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
Nearby Lakes in Grant County
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Barrett Lake
Other Grade D Lakes in Minnesota
Eutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Compare Barrett Lake With Nearby Lakes
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
12 surveys on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2023-07-31 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Yellow Perch | 24.26 | 0.13 lb |
| Black Bullhead | 14.08 | 0.59 lb |
| Green Sunfish | 12.78 | — |
| SUN | 12.65 | — |
| Walleye | 8.70 | 1.7 lb |
| Spottail Shiner | 6.30 | — |
CPUE = catch per unit effort, averaged across surveys (excludes juvenile shoreline seining). Higher CPUE = more abundant in standardized sampling.
Length Distributions
Number of fish caught at each inch class in the most recent survey that recorded lengths. Red dashed line marks an approximate trophy threshold for that species.
Yellow Perch
Black Bullhead
Walleye
From the 2023-07-31 survey
Barrett Lake is a 530-acre impoundment of the Pomme de Terre River. The earliest available records of dam construction date back to 1936. The City of Barrett developed along the west and south shorelines. Maximum depth of the lake is 28.0 feet. Average depth is estimated at 8.5 feet. Water quality measurements…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Barrett Lake. 3 reports on file.
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BarrettFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Fish Stocking History — BarrettFish Stocking History · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — BarrettPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Barrett Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Barrett Lake (completed 1937), built primarily for recreation on the Pomme de Terre River; gravity-type dam, 12 ft tall and 56 ft long.
- Surface area
- 532 ac
- Normal storage
- 4,048 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 5,064 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 332 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Significant
- Owner
- City of Barrett
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID MN00028 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Barrett Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
A Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) plan has been approved.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit MN26-0095-00 · Official waterbody report
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder
Most recent sample: 2024-09-03
Monitoring stations: 1