Crystal Lake
Crystal Lake in Barron County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 52.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 22 ft. Surface area: 110 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Crystal Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 3.2 ft
- Max depth
- 22 ft
- Area
- 110 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Crystal Lake →
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Crystal Lake is a 110-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Barron County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 22 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2025. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Compared to the 27 other monitored lakes in Barron County, Crystal Lake ranks #25 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-08-31. Grade methodology: LakeQuality 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 3.2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 52.5 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 61.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.2 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 52.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 61 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Crystal Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Crystal 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 Crystal Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Crystal 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 Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Crystal Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Crystal Lake D from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 4 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 2021. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 22 ft |
| Surface Area | 110 acres |
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 Crystal Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 4 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.214 m/yr | 4 |
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Crystal Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Crystal Lake Sanitary DistrictComstock · 0.6 mi away · NPDES WI0035114Recent violation
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #25 of 28 lakes in Barron County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Crystal 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 Crystal Lake
Where is Crystal Lake?
- Crystal Lake is a lake in Barron County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Crystal Lake?
- Crystal Lake in Barron County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3.2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 52.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 22 ft. Surface area: 110 acres.
Is Crystal 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. Crystal Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Crystal Lake?
- Crystal Lake has a maximum depth of 22 feet. The lake covers 110 acres.
What fish are in Crystal Lake?
- Fish species found in Crystal Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Crystal Lake is located in Barron County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Crystal Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Crystal Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Crystal Lake D from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, and the water-quality trend over 4 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Explore Crystal Lake across LakeQuality
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Barron County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its grade
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Wisconsin's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Crystal Lake
Other Grade D Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
37 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX37 samples · 2021–2025
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes