Crystal Lake
Barron County, Wisconsin110 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Crystal Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- 22 ft max depth
- Limited data
Crystal Lake in Barron County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. 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 →
Crystal Lake is a 110-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Barron County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 22 feet. 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Crystal Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- 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 Crystal 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 Crystal Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Crystal 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 3.2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 52.5 µg/L. TSI 61.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 3.2ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 52.5µg/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. | 61 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Crystal Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Crystal Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Crystal Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, 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
Max depth
22 ft
Surface area
110 acres
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
1 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
2.2 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,253 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Stays via Stay22
Stays 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 readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Crystal Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Crystal Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Crystal Lake
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 4 years of monitoring (2021–2025).
Water clarity
Worsening4 years
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.
Nearby Lakes in Barron County
Frequently asked questions about Crystal Lake
Where is Crystal Lake?
- Crystal 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 Crystal Lake?
- Crystal Lake in Barron County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. 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?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
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 water quality. LakeQuality shows Crystal Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, 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
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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)
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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
Lake size & watershed from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS)
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes