Red Cedar Lake
Red Cedar Lake in Barron County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). Water clarity: 10.1 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 17.8 µg/L. Maximum depth: 53 ft. Surface area: 1897 acres.
- Clarity
- 10.1 ft
- Max depth
- 53 ft
- Area
- 1,897 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Barron County
Red Cedar Lake is a 1,897-acre mesotrophic lake in Barron County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 53 feet. Water quality is graded B based on 1 sampling years through 2026. 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 4 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. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLow algae
Based on clarity and algae grades from past sampling — we do not hold live water temperature and a current cyanobacteria reading for this lake. Check your state or county health department before you swim.
Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels
Water Quality Grade: B (Good)
Good clarity, visible to about 10.1 ft. Phosphorus level: 17.8 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 45.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 10.1 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 17.8 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 45 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay 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
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Planning a trip? Cabins and lodging at Red Cedar Lake → · more Wisconsin lake trips
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 ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 53 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,897 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Waldo Carlson ParkPublic
- Red Cedar LakePublic
- Hemlock LakePublic
- Twin Lakes (Chain Lakes)Public
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded 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.
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)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 3 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -0.88 µg/L/yr | 3 |
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
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10004632 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #7 of 28 lakes in Barron County
Nearby Lakes in Barron County
Frequently asked questions about Red Cedar Lake
What is the water quality grade for Red Cedar Lake?
- Red Cedar Lake in Barron County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of B (Good). 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?
- Good for swimming, clear water with low algae levels. Red Cedar Lake has a water quality grade of B (Good). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
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.
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 4 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Waldo Carlson Park, Red Cedar Lake, Hemlock Lake, Twin Lakes (Chain Lakes). Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Red Cedar Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Wisconsin's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
Other Grade B Lakes in Wisconsin
Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
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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)
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