Lower Turtle Lake
Barron County, Wisconsin286 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Lower Turtle Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- Curly-Leaf Pondweed
- 24 ft max depth
- Public access
Lower Turtle Lake in Barron County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 56.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 24 ft. Surface area: 286 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Lower Turtle Lake. DNR survey details →
Lower Turtle Lake is a 286-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Barron County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 24 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings. Compared to the 27 other monitored lakes in Barron County, Lower Turtle Lake ranks #27 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-28. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Lower Turtle Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch2 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. Lower Turtle Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5R) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Lower Turtle Lake 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 Lower Turtle Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Lower Turtle Lake, 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 56.4 µg/L. TSI 60.
| 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 | 56.4µg/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. | 60 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Lower Turtle Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Lower Turtle Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 75°F) and coldest in May (about 57°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (57°F) to its warmest (75°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 13 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lower Turtle Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Lower Turtle Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Lower Turtle Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is improving. 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 1987. 5 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
Max depth
24 ft
Surface area
286 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
14 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
3.7 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,152 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Lower Turtle LakePublic
- Lower Turtle LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Lower Turtle Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lower Turtle Lake 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 Lower Turtle Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Lower Turtle Lake
Prices for Oct 16–18, 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 Lower Turtle Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lower Turtle Lake
- → Lower Turtle Lake fishing: DNR survey catch rates, species & stocking
- → Lower Turtle Lake fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → Lower Turtle Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from Lower Turtle Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
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: Improving
Based on 7 years of monitoring (2020–2026).
Water clarity
Improving6 years
Phosphorus
Improving-5.23 µg/L/yr7 years
EPA Impairment Status
Lower Turtle Lake 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 WI10004363 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Barron County
Frequently asked questions about Lower Turtle Lake
Where is Lower Turtle Lake?
- Lower Turtle Lake 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 Lower Turtle Lake?
- Lower Turtle Lake in Barron County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 56.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 24 ft. Surface area: 286 acres.
Is Lower Turtle Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Lower Turtle Lake 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 Lower Turtle Lake?
- Lower Turtle Lake typically sits around 72°F at the surface in September, from 13 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Lower Turtle Lake?
- Lower Turtle Lake has a maximum depth of 24 feet. The lake covers 286 acres.
What fish are in Lower Turtle Lake?
- Fish species found in Lower Turtle Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Lower Turtle Lake is located in Barron County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Lower Turtle Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Lower Turtle Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Lower Turtle Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 7 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Lower Turtle Lake?
- Lower Turtle Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lower Turtle Lake, Lower Turtle Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Lower Turtle Lake?
- Lower Turtle Lake has 2 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 Lower Turtle Lake 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
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State Parks Near Lower Turtle Lake
Other Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
61 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX61 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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