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LakeQuality
B

Lake Desair

Barron County, WisconsinMesotrophic

Lake Desair carries a solid B grade — strong on most parameters, with measurements that hold up well across the summer season. Clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.

Mesotrophic conditions dominate at Lake Desair: enough nutrients for a healthy fishery, not so much that algal blooms become a chronic problem. The lake bottoms out at 33 ft — a moderate depth that supports a warm-water fishery without the year-round cold refuge a deeper basin provides. Lake Desair is small — 81 acres alongside partial shoreline records — which makes it sensitive to even modest changes in watershed runoff or recreational pressure. Lake Desair sits at rank 28 of 38 in Barron County, in the lower half of the local distribution.

Lake Desair has at least one documented invasive species (Chinese Mystery Snail), so boaters and anglers should observe clean-drain-dry steps when leaving the lake. The fishery is bass-led, with 3 documented species across the lake's records. Public access is available — the lake is on the Wisconsin DNR public-access list. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.

Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-09-28. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.

Swimming Safety

Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels

Water Quality Grade: B, Good

Good clarity, visible to about 13.1 ft. Phosphorus level: 36.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 48.

MetricValueGrade
Water Clarity (Secchi Depth)13.1 ftB
Phosphorus36.8 µg/LC
Chlorophyll-a (Algae)No data
Trophic State Index (TSI)48Mesotrophic

Moderate nutrients, good water quality

Lake Details

CharacteristicValue
Maximum Depth33 ft
Surface Area81 acres
Public AccessYes

Fish Species

Click a species to see all Wisconsin and Minnesota lakes where it is found.

→ Best fishing times for Lake Desair (14-day solunar calendar)

→ Is it safe to eat fish from Lake Desair? (mercury & PFAS guide)

Lake Desair fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)

Invasive Species

Chinese Mystery Snail

Water Quality Trend: Declining

Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).

MetricTrendChange/YearYears
Water Clarity Declining-0.183 m/yr5
Phosphorus Declining+3.46 µg/L/yr6

Recreation & Access

1
Boat Landings
Yes
Public Access

Location

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County Ranking

Ranked #28 of 38 lakes in Barron County

Nearby Lakes in Barron County

WI DNR Lake Profile

Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 1993. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2026).

DNR Assessment
Poor · Deep Lowland lake
Trophic State Index 66 (eutrophic) · 5-year average

Fish Species (DNR-rated)

Panfish(Common)Largemouth Bass(Common)Northern Pike(Common)

Data Sources

Water quality data from the EPA Water Quality Portal

Grading methodology based on Metropolitan Council standards

Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes

Most recent sample: 2025-09-28

Monitoring stations: 1