Lake Montanis
Barron County, Wisconsin212 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Lake Montanis. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- Curly-Leaf Pondweed
- 14 ft max depth
- Public access
Lake Montanis in Barron County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 48.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 14 ft. Surface area: 212 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Lake Montanis. DNR survey details →
Lake Montanis is a 212-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Barron County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 14 feet. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 3 public boat landings. Compared to the 27 other monitored lakes in Barron County, Lake Montanis ranks #22 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-22. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Lake Montanis is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch3 documented ramps
- Fishing4 species recorded
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 Montanis is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5R) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Lake Montanis 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 Montanis
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Lake Montanis, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Very murky, less than 2 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 48.5 µg/L. TSI 64.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 2ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 48.5µg/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. | 64 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Lake Montanis
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Lake Montanis typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jun (about 76°F) and coldest in Aug (about 74°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (74°F) to its warmest (76°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 14 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lake Montanis water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Lake Montanis.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Lake Montanis’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is stable. 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 2001. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Lake Montanis covering fish populations, stocking, water quality, and management. 1 report on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- 2024Lake Montanis fishery survey, 2024Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2024 (PDF)
Lake Details
Max depth
14 ft
Surface area
212 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
7 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
2.7 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,109 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Veterans Memorial ParkPublic
- 18 1/2 AvenuePublic
- 22 22 1/4 StreetPublic
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 Montanis
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lake Montanis 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 Montanis are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Lake Montanis
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 Montanis’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lake Montanis
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: Stable
Based on 7 years of monitoring (2020–2026).
Water clarity
Stable7 years
Phosphorus
Stable-0.5 µg/L/yr7 years
EPA Impairment Status
Lake Montanis 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 WI10004574 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Barron County
Frequently asked questions about Lake Montanis
Where is Lake Montanis?
- Lake Montanis 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 Montanis?
- Lake Montanis in Barron County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 48.5 µg/L. Maximum depth: 14 ft. Surface area: 212 acres.
Is Lake Montanis safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Lake Montanis is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5R) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Lake Montanis?
- Lake Montanis typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August, from 14 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Lake Montanis?
- Lake Montanis has a maximum depth of 14 feet. The lake covers 212 acres.
What fish are in Lake Montanis?
- Fish species found in Lake Montanis include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Lake Montanis is located in Barron County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Lake Montanis?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Lake Montanis. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Lake Montanis’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Lake Montanis?
- Lake Montanis has 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Veterans Memorial Park, 18 1/2 Avenue, 22 22 1/4 Street. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Lake Montanis?
- Lake Montanis has 3 documented boat landings 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 Montanis across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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
More lakes in Wisconsin
Other Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
36 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_WQX36 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