Staples Lake
Staples Lake in Barron County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 131 µg/L. Maximum depth: 17 ft. Surface area: 340 acres.
- Clarity
- 2.6 ft
- Typical in July
- 76°F
- Max depth
- 17 ft
- Area
- 340 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↑ Improving
- Public access
- Yes
Grade D measures nutrients and algae, not whether this is a good place for a cabin trip. Cabins and rentals near Staples Lake →
Next lake in Barron County
Staples Lake is a 340-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Barron County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 17 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 4 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 27 other monitored lakes in Barron County, Staples Lake ranks #26 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-26. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyElevated nutrients
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.
Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum
Water Quality Grade: D (Nutrient-rich)
Very murky, less than 2.6 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 131 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 69.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 2.6 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 131 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 69 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Staples Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Staples 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. The water-quality grade measures nutrients and algae, not lodging — cabins and rentals around Staples Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Staples 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
Staples Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in July. Summer average is about 74°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 76°F) and coldest in Apr (about 50°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 24 field readings (2024–2026) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Staples Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 17 ft |
| Surface Area | 340 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Staples LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Staples 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 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.023 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -12.54 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Staples 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 WI10005053 · Official waterbody report
County Ranking
Ranked #26 of 28 lakes in Barron County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Staples Lake holds Grade D. One nearby lake has a higher nutrient-and-algae grade — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Barron County
Frequently asked questions about Staples Lake
What is the water quality grade for Staples Lake?
- Staples Lake in Barron County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 2.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 131 µg/L. Maximum depth: 17 ft. Surface area: 340 acres.
Is Staples Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrients and algae run higher than average — check local advisories before swimming, and skip the water if you see scum. Staples Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Staples Lake?
- Staples Lake typically sits around 76°F at the surface in July, from 24 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2026). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Staples Lake?
- Staples Lake has a maximum depth of 17 feet. The lake covers 340 acres.
What fish are in Staples Lake?
- Fish species found in Staples Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Staples Lake is located in Barron County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Staples Lake?
- Staples Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Staples Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Staples Lake across LakeGrade
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
47 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX47 samples · 2020–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
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