Lake Ashtabula
Barnes County, WisconsinEutrophic
Lake Ashtabula is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Barnes County, ND. Water quality is graded B based on 2 sampling years through 2025. Compared to the 3 other monitored lakes in Barnes County, Lake Ashtabula ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, local state DNR records, last sampled 2025-05-28. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Swimming Safety
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B, Good
Murky, only visible to about 3.4 ft. Chlorophyll-a: 3.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 51.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3.4 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 3.3 µg/L | A |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 51 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 4 lakes in Barnes County
Cleaner Lakes Within 30 Miles
Lake Ashtabula holds Grade B. One nearby lake has a higher grade.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Barnes County
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Ashtabula is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2022 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit ND-09020203-001-L_00 · Official waterbody report
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2025-05-28
Monitoring stations: 2