Lake Desair
Barron County, Wisconsin81 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Lake Desair. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- 33 ft max depth
- Public access
Lake Desair in Barron County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 40.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 33 ft. Surface area: 81 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Lake Desair. DNR survey details →
Lake Desair is a 81-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Barron County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 33 feet. 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 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 27 other monitored lakes in Barron County, Lake Desair ranks #24 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-15. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Lake Desair covers about 81 acres in Barron County. It has one public boat landing. If you are planning to stay, you can search lake houses and cabins around Lake Desair on Vrbo, or look for a hotel room near the lake on Booking.com or Expedia.
What Lake Desair is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing3 species recorded
- Deep water33 ft surveyed max depth
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
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. Lake Desair is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5R) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), turbidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Lake Desair 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 Lake Desair
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Lake Desair, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Murky, only visible to about 4 ft. Phosphorus 40.7 µg/L. TSI 57.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 4ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 40.7µg/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. | 57 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Lake Desair
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Lake Desair typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in Mar (about 41°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (41°F) to its warmest (77°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 20 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lake Desair water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Lake Desair.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Lake Desair’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 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 1993. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2026).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
Max depth
33 ft
Surface area
81 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
6 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
1.7 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,155 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Lake DesairPublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Lake Desair
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Desair 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 Lake Desair are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Lake Desair
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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 →
Follow Lake Desair’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lake Desair
Invasive & Introduced Species
Red chips are ecologically harmful invasive species. Gray chips are stocked or introduced fish that aren't a current ecological concern.
Water Quality Trend: Worsening
Based on 7 years of monitoring (2020–2026).
Water clarity
Worsening5 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+5.2 µg/L/yr7 years
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Desair is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5R).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life, Recreation.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10004580 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Barron County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Desair
Where is Lake Desair?
- Lake Desair 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 Lake Desair?
- Lake Desair in Barron County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 40.7 µg/L. Maximum depth: 33 ft. Surface area: 81 acres.
Is Lake Desair safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Lake Desair is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5R) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen), turbidity. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Lake Desair?
- Lake Desair typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, from 20 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Lake Desair?
- Lake Desair has a maximum depth of 33 feet. The lake covers 81 acres.
What fish are in Lake Desair?
- Fish species found in Lake Desair include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Lake Desair is located in Barron County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Lake Desair?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Lake Desair. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Lake Desair’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Lake Desair?
- Lake Desair has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lake Desair. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Lake Desair?
- Lake Desair has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Seasons, size and bag limits, and whether you need a license are set by Wisconsin's fish and wildlife agency, so check its current regulations before you go.
Explore Lake Desair across LakeQuality
Fish species and the cleanest 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 readings
Wisconsin's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Other Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
77 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX77 samples · 2020–2026
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
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