Prairie Lake
Prairie Lake in Barron County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 2.1 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 16 ft. Surface area: 1408 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.1 ft
- Typical in August
- 74°F
- Max depth
- 16 ft
- Area
- 1,408 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Barron County
Why Prairie Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when its monitoring record clears the evidence bar: 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 Prairie 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.
Prairie Lake is a 1,408-acre lake in Barron County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 16 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Smallmouth Bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-09-25. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Prairie Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Prairie Lake
These readings exist but do not meet the evidence bar for an A–F grade — see why.
Very murky, less than 2.1 ft of visibility. Trophic State Index: 66.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | No recent samples | |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 66 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Prairie Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Prairie 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 Prairie 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
Prairie Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 77°F) and coldest in May (about 65°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 34 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal.
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 16 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,408 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Prairie Lake - 4Public
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Prairie 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 1987. 5 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.071 m/yr | 3 |
EPA Impairment Status
Prairie 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 WI10004438 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Prairie Lake
Prairie Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Barron County
Frequently asked questions about Prairie Lake
What is the water quality grade for Prairie Lake?
- Prairie Lake in Barron County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Water clarity: 2.1 ft visibility. Maximum depth: 16 ft. Surface area: 1408 acres.
Is Prairie Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Prairie 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 Prairie Lake?
- Prairie Lake typically sits around 74°F at the surface in August, from 34 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Prairie Lake?
- Prairie Lake has a maximum depth of 16 feet. The lake covers 1408 acres.
What fish are in Prairie Lake?
- Fish species found in Prairie Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Prairie Lake is located in Barron County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Prairie Lake?
- Prairie Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Prairie Lake - 4. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Prairie Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded 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 grade
Wisconsin's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
22 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX22 samples · 2021–2025
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