Kirby Lake
Kirby Lake in Barron County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 7.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 24.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 19 ft. Surface area: 98 acres.
- Clarity
- 7.5 ft
- Max depth
- 19 ft
- Area
- 98 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Barron County
Kirby Lake is a 98-acre mesotrophic lake in Barron County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 19 feet. Water quality is graded B 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. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 27 other monitored lakes in Barron County, Kirby Lake ranks #8 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-09-01. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Kirby Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
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)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 7.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 24.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 49.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 7.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 24.4 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 49 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Kirby Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Kirby 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Kirby 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 →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 19 ft |
| Surface Area | 98 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Kirby LakePublic
- Shallow LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Kirby Lake
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 1991. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.35 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +2.4 µg/L/yr | 6 |
County Ranking
Ranked #8 of 28 lakes in Barron County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Kirby Lake holds Grade B. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Barron County
Frequently asked questions about Kirby Lake
What is the water quality grade for Kirby Lake?
- Kirby Lake in Barron County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 7.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 24.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 19 ft. Surface area: 98 acres.
Is Kirby Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Kirby Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Kirby Lake?
- Kirby Lake has a maximum depth of 19 feet. The lake covers 98 acres.
What fish are in Kirby Lake?
- Fish species found in Kirby Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Kirby Lake is located in Barron County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Kirby Lake?
- Kirby Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Kirby Lake, Shallow Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Kirby Lake across LakeGrade
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
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Wisconsin's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Kirby Lake
Other Grade B Lakes in Wisconsin
Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
23 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX23 samples · 2020–2025
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
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