Lower Vermillion Lake
Lower Vermillion Lake in Barron County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 55 ft. Surface area: 215 acres.
- Clarity
- 9 ft
- Typical in August
- 73°F
- Max depth
- 55 ft
- Area
- 215 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Barron County
Lower Vermillion Lake is a 215-acre mesotrophic lake in Barron County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 55 feet. Water quality is graded B 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 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 27 other monitored lakes in Barron County, Lower Vermillion Lake ranks #12 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-07-07. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
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.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Moderate clarity, visible to about 9 ft. Phosphorus level: 17.1 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 45.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 9 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 17.1 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay near Lower Vermillion Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Lower Vermillion 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Lower Vermillion Lake
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Water Temperature
Lower Vermillion Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in May (about 62°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 23 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Lower Vermillion Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 55 ft |
| Surface Area | 215 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Lower Vermillion LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Lower Vermillion 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.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. Monitored by volunteers since 1999. 6 stations on file (most recent sample 2026).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.973 m/yr | 7 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -7.5 µg/L/yr | 7 |
EPA Impairment Status
Lower Vermillion 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 WI10004480 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Lower Vermillion Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Cumberland City OfCumberland · 1.7 mi away · NPDES WI0020354Recent violation
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 #12 of 28 lakes in Barron County
Nearby Lakes in Barron County
Frequently asked questions about Lower Vermillion Lake
What is the water quality grade for Lower Vermillion Lake?
- Lower Vermillion Lake in Barron County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 9 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17.1 µg/L. Maximum depth: 55 ft. Surface area: 215 acres.
Is Lower Vermillion Lake safe to swim in?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Lower Vermillion Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Lower Vermillion Lake?
- Lower Vermillion Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in August, from 23 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Lower Vermillion Lake?
- Lower Vermillion Lake has a maximum depth of 55 feet. The lake covers 215 acres.
What fish are in Lower Vermillion Lake?
- Fish species found in Lower Vermillion Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Lower Vermillion Lake is located in Barron County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Lower Vermillion Lake?
- Lower Vermillion Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Lower Vermillion Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Lower Vermillion Lake across LakeGrade
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Moderate nutrients, good water quality
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Where this data comes from
98 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_WQX98 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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)
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