Big Barbee Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Kosciusko County, Indiana. Water quality is graded F based on 1 sampling years through 2021. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 2 documented fish species including Bluegill and Redear. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 18 other monitored lakes in Kosciusko County, Big Barbee Lake ranks #18 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Indiana DNR, last sampled 2021-08-10. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Avoid swimming, very poor water quality, potential algae toxins
Water Quality Grade: F, Very Poor
Very murky, less than 3.1 ft of visibility. Trophic State Index: 61.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.1 ft | F |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No data | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 61 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Big Barbee Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Big Barbee Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.064 m/yr | 4 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↓ Declining | +7.82 µg/L/yr | 3 |
Recreation & Access
Water Temperature
Big Barbee Lake averages about 76°F at the surface in summer, usually warmest in Jul (about 81°F) and coldest in Jun (about 72°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 13 field readings (2012–2020) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Big Barbee Lake water temperature breakdown →
Location & Depth Map
Free interactive depth-contour map of Big Barbee Lake, reaching a maximum surveyed depth of 42 ft. Toggle Depth contours to overlay the bathymetric survey lines. Contour data from Indiana DNR.
County Ranking
Ranked #18 of 19 lakes in Kosciusko County
Nearby Lakes in Kosciusko County
Explore Big Barbee Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Indiana
Fish species and best lakes in Kosciusko County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Indiana's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Indiana Lake Rankings
Other Grade F Lakes in Indiana
Eutrophic Lakes in Indiana
More records, surveys & data sources
EPA Impairment Status
Big Barbee Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit INB06P1050_00 · Official waterbody report
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS). Mean depth is a modeled estimate.
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
6 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Big Barbee Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Yogi Bear Jellystone Park WwtpPierceton · 1.9 mi away · NPDES IN0030911Recent violation
- Lakeland Regional Wastewater Collection SystemLeesburg · 1 mi away · NPDES INR10H322
- Kosciusko County Bridge 18 Wetland MitigationPierceton · 4.5 mi away · NPDES INRA02207
- Shiloh Industries PiercetonPierceton · 4.6 mi away · NPDES INRM01680
- Aludyne North America, Llc PiercetonPierceton · 4.6 mi away · NPDES INRM02777
- Linacast Incorporated - Linamar Light Metals PiercetonPierceton · 4.6 mi away · NPDES INRM03244
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.
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Public boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory
Most recent sample: 2021-08-10
Monitoring stations: 1