Lake Ashtabula
Barnes County, WisconsinMesotrophic
Lake Ashtabula is a 5,470-acre mesotrophic 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 #2 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 6.6 ft. Chlorophyll-a: 4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 47.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 6.6 ft | D |
| Phosphorus | No data | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 4 µg/L | A |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 47 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Surface Area | 5.5K acres |
Location
County Ranking
Ranked #2 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
Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Lake Ashtabula is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Baldhill Dam (completed 1950), built primarily for flood risk reduction on the SHEYENNE RIVER; concrete-type dam, 60 ft tall and 1,800 ft long.
- Surface area
- 5,470 ac
- Normal storage
- 69,500 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 156,000 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 8,078 sq mi
- Hazard class
- High
- Owner
- USACE - St. Paul District
All listed purposes: Flood Risk Reduction;Recreation;Water Supply.
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID ND00309 · Operator website
Data Sources
Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal
Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards
Most recent sample: 2025-05-28
Monitoring stations: 3