Red Cedar Lake
Barron County, Wisconsin1,897 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Red Cedar Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- 3 aquatic invasives
- 53 ft max depth
- Public access
Red Cedar Lake in Barron County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 10.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 53 ft. Surface area: 1897 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Red Cedar Lake. DNR survey details →
Red Cedar Lake is a 1,897-acre mesotrophic lake in Barron County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 53 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. Compared to the 27 other monitored lakes in Barron County, Red Cedar Lake ranks #7 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-18. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Red Cedar Lake covers about 1,900 acres in Barron County. It has 2 public boat landings, so a lakefront rental is not the only way to get a boat on the water. For a place on the water, look through cabin and lake-house rentals near Red Cedar Lake on Vrbo. For a hotel or motel room, Booking.com and Expedia both search around the lake.
What Red Cedar Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water10.1 ft of visibility
- Boat launch2 documented ramps
- Fishing5 species recorded
- Deep water53 ft surveyed max depth
- Big water1,897 acres
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. Red Cedar Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5R) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Red Cedar 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 Red Cedar Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Red Cedar Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 10.1 ft. Phosphorus 17.8 µg/L. TSI 45.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 10.1ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 17.8µg/L | Good 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. | 45 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Red Cedar Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Red Cedar Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was moderate (71,779 cells/mL) on July 7, 2026.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Red Cedar Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Red Cedar Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 3 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. 12 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Red Cedar 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).
- 2023Red Cedar Chain of Lakes fisheries survey, 2023Fisheries Survey · WI DNR · 2023 (PDF)
Lake Details
Max depth
53 ft
Surface area
1,897 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
152 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
18.8 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,175 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Waldo Carlson ParkPublic
- Red Cedar LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Stays via Stay22
Stays near Red Cedar Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Red Cedar 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 Red Cedar Lake
Prices for Oct 9–11, 4 adults. Change dates on the map below.
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 trip? Cabins and lodging at Red Cedar Lake → · more Wisconsin lake trips
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Red Cedar 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 readings over time
3 seasons of samples on record (2020–2026). Calling a direction takes at least 4 years of the same measurement.
Phosphorus
Improving-0.88 µg/L/yr3 years
EPA Impairment Status
Red Cedar 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 WI10004632 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Barron County
Frequently asked questions about Red Cedar Lake
Where is Red Cedar Lake?
- Red Cedar 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 Red Cedar Lake?
- Red Cedar Lake in Barron County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 10.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 53 ft. Surface area: 1897 acres.
Is Red Cedar Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Red Cedar 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 Red Cedar Lake?
- Red Cedar Lake has a maximum depth of 53 feet. The lake covers 1897 acres.
What fish are in Red Cedar Lake?
- Fish species found in Red Cedar Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Red Cedar Lake is located in Barron County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Red Cedar Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Largemouth Bass as common on Red Cedar Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Red Cedar Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 3 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Does Red Cedar Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Red Cedar Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was moderate (71,779 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Wisconsin's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Red Cedar Lake?
- Red Cedar Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Waldo Carlson Park, Red Cedar Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Red Cedar Lake?
- Red Cedar Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. 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 Red Cedar Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest 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 readings
Wisconsin's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Compare Red Cedar Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
110 measurements from 4 monitoring stations, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX110 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
- Turbidity in Water
Monitoring station identifiers (4)
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
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory