Butternut Lake
Butternut Lake in Barron County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 73 µg/L. Maximum depth: 15 ft. Surface area: 145 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.3 ft
- Typical in August
- 70°F
- Max depth
- 15 ft
- Area
- 145 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Butternut Lake →
Next lake in Barron County
Butternut Lake is a 145-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Barron County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 15 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 27 other monitored lakes in Barron County, Butternut Lake ranks #23 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-23. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 2.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 73 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 66.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 73 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 66 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Butternut Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Butternut 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Butternut Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Butternut Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Butternut Lake typically sits around 70°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in Feb (about 35°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 12 field readings (2025–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Butternut Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 15 ft |
| Surface Area | 145 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Butternut Lake (West)Public
- Butternut Lake (East)Public
- Spider LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Butternut 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 2025. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +20 µg/L/yr | 2 |
County Ranking
Ranked #23 of 28 lakes in Barron County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Butternut Lake holds Grade D. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Barron County
Frequently asked questions about Butternut Lake
What is the water quality grade for Butternut Lake?
- Butternut Lake in Barron County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 73 µg/L. Maximum depth: 15 ft. Surface area: 145 acres.
Is Butternut Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Butternut Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Butternut Lake?
- Butternut Lake typically sits around 70°F at the surface in August, from 12 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2025–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Butternut Lake?
- Butternut Lake has a maximum depth of 15 feet. The lake covers 145 acres.
What fish are in Butternut Lake?
- Fish species found in Butternut Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Butternut Lake is located in Barron County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Butternut Lake?
- Butternut Lake has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Butternut Lake (West), Butternut Lake (East), Spider Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Butternut Lake across LakeGrade
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
11 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2025–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX11 samples · 2025–2026
Analytical methods
- Total Phosphorus After Block Digestion
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)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory