Butternut Lake
Barron County, Wisconsin145 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Butternut Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Purple Loosestrife
- 15 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Butternut Lake in Barron County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2.3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 73 µg/L. Maximum depth: 15 ft. Surface area: 145 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Butternut Lake. DNR survey details →
Butternut Lake is a 145-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Barron County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 15 feet. 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 2 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Butternut Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
- Fishing3 species recorded
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae readings from past sampling — there is no live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Butternut Lake is safe to swim in today is a call for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and the county health department, who post current advisories. LakeQuality does not issue swimming clearances.
Water quality measurements for Butternut Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Butternut Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Very murky, less than 2.3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 73 µg/L. TSI 66.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 2.3ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 73µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | No reading The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. | |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 66 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Butternut Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (35°F) to its warmest (76°F).
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 →
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Butternut Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Butternut Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
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)
Lake Details
Max depth
15 ft
Surface area
145 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
2 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
2.3 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,293 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Butternut Lake (West)Public
- Butternut Lake (East)Public
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays 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 readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Butternut Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Butternut Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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 Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Follow Butternut Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every 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.
Water quality readings over time
2 seasons of samples on record (2025–2026). Calling a direction takes at least 4 years of the same measurement.
Phosphorus
Worsening+20 µg/L/yr2 years
Nearby Lakes in Barron County
Frequently asked questions about Butternut Lake
Where is Butternut Lake?
- Butternut Lake is a lake in Barron County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Butternut Lake?
- Butternut Lake in Barron County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. 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?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
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.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Butternut Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Butternut Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Butternut Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Butternut Lake?
- Butternut Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Butternut Lake (West), Butternut Lake (East). Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Butternut Lake?
- Butternut Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Wisconsin's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Butternut Lake across LakeQuality
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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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)
EPA condition classes from the National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See where the data comes from 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