Lower Turtle Lake
Lower Turtle Lake in Barron County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). 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 →
- Clarity
- 4 ft
- Typical in July
- 75°F
- Max depth
- 24 ft
- Area
- 286 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Lower Turtle Lake →
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Lower Turtle Lake is a 286-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Barron County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 24 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2026. 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. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyElevated nutrients
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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Murky, only visible to about 4 ft. Phosphorus level: 56.4 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 60.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 56.4 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 60 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay 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 grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Lower Turtle Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Lower Turtle Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Lower Turtle Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in July. 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.
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 a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Lower Turtle Lake D from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 24 ft |
| Surface Area | 286 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
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
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lower Turtle Lake
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 data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.093 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -5.23 µg/L/yr | 7 |
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
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10004363 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #27 of 28 lakes in Barron County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Lower Turtle Lake holds Grade D. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →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. LakeQuality grades it D for nutrients and algae. The letter is not a swimming clearance.
What is the water quality grade for Lower Turtle Lake?
- Lower Turtle Lake in Barron County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). 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?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Lower Turtle Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Lower Turtle Lake?
- Lower Turtle Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in July, 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 a water-quality grade. LakeQuality grades Lower Turtle Lake D from EPA Water Quality Portal chemistry, 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.
Explore Lower Turtle Lake across LakeQuality
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Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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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)
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
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