Little Bass Lake
Little Bass Lake in Polk County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 37.8 µg/L.
- Clarity
- 5.5 ft
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
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Little Bass Lake is a productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Polk County, Wisconsin. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2023. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. Compared to the 54 other monitored lakes in Polk County, Little Bass Lake ranks #36 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2023-09-11. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 5.5 ft. Phosphorus level: 37.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 55.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 5.5 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 37.8 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 55 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Little Bass Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Little Bass Lake in Polk 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Little Bass Lake
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Fishing Little Bass Lake
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | -0.08 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +4.27 µg/L/yr | 4 |
EPA Impairment Status
Little Bass Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5R).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10006711 · Official waterbody report · Matched by proximity (1.52 km)
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Little Bass Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits.
- Balsam Lake Village OfBalsam Lake, Village Of · 1.6 mi away · NPDES WI0020648
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #36 of 55 lakes in Polk County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Little Bass Lake holds Grade C. 2 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
Nearby Lakes in Polk County
Frequently asked questions about Little Bass Lake
Where is Little Bass Lake?
- Little Bass Lake is a lake in Polk County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality grades it C for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Little Bass Lake?
- Little Bass Lake in Polk County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 5.5 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 37.8 µg/L.
Is Little Bass Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Little Bass Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
Explore Little Bass Lake across LakeQuality
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Other Grade C Lakes in Wisconsin
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Where this data comes from
13 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2022–2023. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX13 samples · 2022–2023
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
Grade thresholds from the EPA National Lakes Assessment (EPA 841-R-24-006, Table 6-3), applied by ecoregion. See how grades are calculated and data sources.
Other records on this page
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)