Mud Lake
Mud Lake in Barron County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 2.3 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 15 ft. Surface area: 332 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Mud Lake. DNR survey details →
- Clarity
- 2.3 ft
- Typical in August
- 76°F
- Max depth
- 15 ft
- Area
- 332 acres
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
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Why Mud Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Mud Lake, the only measurement available is water clarity, which is not a water-quality indicator on its own — EPA's National Lakes Assessment does not grade clarity. Sampling here has recorded water clarity, but not phosphorus and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by WI DNR and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Mud Lake is a 332-acre lake in Barron County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 15 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Smallmouth Bass. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-09-25. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Mud Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
Very murky, less than 2.3 ft of visibility. Trophic State Index: 65.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 65 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Mud Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Mud 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 Mud Lake
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 →
Water Temperature
Mud Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 73°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in Oct (about 58°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 16 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Mud Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Mud Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was very high (2,089,296 cells/mL) on July 18, 2026.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Mud Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Mud Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 2 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. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 15 ft |
| Surface Area | 332 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Gifford AvenuePublic
- Greenwald AvenuePublic
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 Mud 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 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↑ Improving | +0.5 m/yr | 2 |
EPA Impairment Status
Mud 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 WI10024769 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Mud Lake
Mud Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Barron County
Frequently asked questions about Mud Lake
Where is Mud Lake?
- Mud Lake is a lake in Barron County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — there is not enough recent sampling to assign a letter.
What is the water quality grade for Mud Lake?
- Mud Lake in Barron County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 2.3 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 15 ft. Surface area: 332 acres.
Is Mud Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Mud Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Mud Lake?
- Mud Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in August, from 16 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Mud Lake?
- Mud Lake has a maximum depth of 15 feet. The lake covers 332 acres.
What fish are in Mud Lake?
- Fish species found in Mud Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Mud Lake is located in Barron County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Mud Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Panfish as common on Mud Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Mud Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, and the water-quality trend over 2 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Does Mud Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Mud Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was very high (2,089,296 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Wisconsin's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Mud Lake?
- Mud Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Gifford Avenue, Greenwald Avenue. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Mud Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
7 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2024–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX7 samples · 2024–2025
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
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