Barry Lake
Barry Lake in Big Stone County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 0.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 348 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 149 µg/L. Maximum depth: 8.8 ft. Surface area: 398.07 acres.
- Clarity
- 0.8 ft
- Max depth
- 8.8 ft
- Area
- 398 acres
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Big Stone County
Why Barry 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 Barry Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Sampling here has recorded water clarity, 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 MPCA and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Barry Lake is a 398-acre lake in Big Stone County, Minnesota with a maximum depth of 9 feet (7-foot average). The lake supports 6 documented fish species including black bullhead, common carp, and orangespotted sunfish. Public access is available.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Minnesota DNR LakeFinder, last sampled 2022-09-19. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Barry Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Barry Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Very murky, less than 0.8 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 348 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 149 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 83.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 0.8 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 348 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 149 µg/L | Not graded |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 83 | Hypereutrophic |
Very high nutrients, dense algae, poor clarity
Where to stay near Barry Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Barry Lake in Big Stone 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Barry Lake
Availability and prices from Stay22 partners (Booking.com, Vrbo, Expedia). We may earn a commission from bookings, at no extra cost to you.
Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Minnesota’s top lakes →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 8.8 ft |
| Average Depth | 6.5 ft |
| Surface Area | 398 acres |
| Shoreline Length | 5.6 mi |
| Littoral Zone | 100% |
| Public Access | Yes |
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 Barry Lake
DNR Fisheries Survey Summary
1 survey on file from MN DNR Fisheries. Most recent: 2003-07-17 (Standard Survey).
Top Species by Catch Rate
| Species | Avg CPUE | Avg Weight |
|---|---|---|
| Fathead Minnow | 4960.00 | — |
| Black Bullhead | 196.11 | 0.12 lb |
| OSS | 120.33 | 0.03 lb |
| BST | 66.40 | — |
| IOD | 30.80 | — |
| JND | 4.00 | — |
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.
Black Bullhead
OSS
From the 2003-07-17 survey
This was an initial investigaton of Barry Lake, a 393 acre lake located entirely within a USFWS Waterfowl Production Area in northwest Big Stone County. Above average precipitation over the last 10 years has increaced the water level of Barry Lake approximately 4 feet according to flooded timber located on west and…
DNR Reports & Resources
Minnesota DNR LakeFinder publishes lake survey, fish stocking, water access, and aquatic plant data for Barry Lake. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- —Fisheries Lake Survey — BarryFisheries Lake Survey · MN DNR LakeFinder
- —Public Water Access Sites — BarryPublic Water Access Sites · MN DNR LakeFinder
Graded lakes near Barry Lake
Barry Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Big Stone County
Frequently asked questions about Barry Lake
What is the water quality grade for Barry Lake?
- Barry Lake in Big Stone County, Minnesota is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 0.8 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 348 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 149 µg/L. Maximum depth: 8.8 ft. Surface area: 398.07 acres.
Is Barry Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Barry Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 149 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Barry Lake?
- Barry Lake has a maximum depth of 8.8 feet and an average depth of 6.5 feet. The lake covers 398.07 acres.
What fish are in Barry Lake?
- Fish species found in Barry Lake include black bullhead, common carp, orangespotted sunfish, walleye, white sucker, yellow perch. Barry Lake is located in Big Stone County, Minnesota.
Explore Barry Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Minnesota
Fish species and best lakes in Big Stone County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Minnesota's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the Minnesota River Watershed, ranked by water quality
Minnesota's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Minnesota Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Barry Lake
Other Lakes in Minnesota
Hypereutrophic Lakes in Minnesota
Where this data comes from
4 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Minnesota Pollution Control Agency - Ambient Surface Water
MNPCA4 samples · 2022
Analytical methods
- Field measurement/observation, generic method
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- 2120 B ~ Color in Water by Visual Comparison
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)
Lake details from Minnesota DNR LakeFinder