Big Dummy Lake
Big Dummy Lake in Barron County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 12 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 16.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 54 ft. Surface area: 114 acres.
- Clarity
- 12 ft
- Max depth
- 54 ft
- Area
- 114 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Barron County
Big Dummy Lake is a 114-acre mesotrophic lake in Barron County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 54 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 27 other monitored lakes in Barron County, Big Dummy Lake ranks #10 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-29. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Good clarity, visible to about 12 ft. Phosphorus level: 16.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 12 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 16.2 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Big Dummy Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Big Dummy Lake in Barron 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.
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Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 54 ft |
| Surface Area | 114 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Big Dummy LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Big Dummy Lake
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 1988. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +1 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.57 µg/L/yr | 7 |
EPA Impairment Status
Big Dummy Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5R).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10004446 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #10 of 28 lakes in Barron County
Nearby Lakes in Barron County
Frequently asked questions about Big Dummy Lake
What is the water quality grade for Big Dummy Lake?
- Big Dummy Lake in Barron County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 12 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 16.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 54 ft. Surface area: 114 acres.
Is Big Dummy Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Big Dummy Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Big Dummy Lake?
- Big Dummy Lake has a maximum depth of 54 feet. The lake covers 114 acres.
What fish are in Big Dummy Lake?
- Fish species found in Big Dummy Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Big Dummy Lake is located in Barron County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Big Dummy Lake?
- Big Dummy Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Big Dummy Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Big Dummy Lake across LakeGrade
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Where this data comes from
45 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX45 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory