Prairie Lake

Prairie Lake earns a D — measurements through 2025 show persistent nutrient pressure that limits clarity through the summer. Sub-grades cluster within a single letter of each other, which usually means the lake is in stable trophic balance rather than fighting one specific stressor.

A TSI in the eutrophic range signals a lake doing what nutrient-loaded waters do — supporting an active algal community at the cost of clear water. A maximum depth of 16 ft puts Prairie Lake in the middle of Wisconsin's depth distribution. With 1,408 acres of surface and partial shoreline records, Prairie Lake is a large water by Wisconsin standards — recreational pressure is spread across a long shoreline. Prairie Lake ranks 37 of 38 in Barron County — at the lower end of the locally monitored distribution.

An invasive species record — Banded Mystery Snail — has been logged at Prairie Lake; Wisconsin DNR maintains the official infested-waters list. Walleye are documented at Prairie Lake, one of 5 fish species on record for the lake. A documented public access point at Prairie Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. The grade is based on limited monitoring — fewer than three independent measurement years contribute, so future updates may shift the letter.