Moon Lake
Barron County, Wisconsin74 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Moon Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- 5 ft max depth
- Public access
Moon Lake in Barron County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Phosphorus: 39.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 5 ft. Surface area: 74 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Moon Lake. DNR survey details →
Moon Lake is a 74-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Barron County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 5 feet. The lake supports 2 documented fish species including Panfish and Northern Pike. Public access is available. Compared to the 27 other monitored lakes in Barron County, Moon Lake ranks #20 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-07-30. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
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. Moon Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5R) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Moon 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 Moon Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Moon Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
No clarity data. Phosphorus 39.9 µg/L. TSI 57.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | No reading How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. | |
| Total phosphorus | 39.9µg/L | Fair 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. | 57 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Moon Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Moon Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Moon Lake’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 2013. 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 Moon Lake 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).
- 2021Big Moon Lake comprehensive survey, 2021Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2021 (PDF)
Lake Details
Max depth
5 ft
Surface area
74 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
0 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
1.4 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,106 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Moon Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Moon 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 Moon Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Moon 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: Stable
Based on 7 years of monitoring (2020–2026).
Water clarity
Stable7 years
Phosphorus
Stable-0.5 µg/L/yr7 years
EPA Impairment Status
Moon 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 WI10006654 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Barron County
Frequently asked questions about Moon Lake
Where is Moon Lake?
- Moon 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 Moon Lake?
- Moon Lake in Barron County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Phosphorus: 39.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 5 ft. Surface area: 74 acres.
Is Moon Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Moon Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5R) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
How deep is Moon Lake?
- Moon Lake has a maximum depth of 5 feet. The lake covers 74 acres.
What fish are in Moon Lake?
- Fish species found in Moon Lake include Panfish, Northern Pike. Moon Lake is located in Barron County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Moon Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Moon Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Moon Lake’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.
Can I fish at Moon Lake?
- Public access to Moon Lake is listed as yes on the lake record. 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 Moon Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
12 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX12 samples · 2020–2025
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