Staples Lake
Barron County, Wisconsin340 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Staples Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- Curly-Leaf Pondweed
- 17 ft max depth
- Public access
Staples Lake in Barron County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 2.6 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 131 µg/L. Maximum depth: 17 ft. Surface area: 340 acres.
Staples Lake is a 340-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Barron County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 17 feet. 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. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
What Staples Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing4 species recorded
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. Staples Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5R) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Staples 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 Staples Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Staples Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Very murky, less than 2.6 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 131 µg/L. TSI 69.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 2.6ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 131µg/L | Poor 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. | 69 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Staples Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Staples Lake typically sits around 70°F at the surface in September. 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.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (50°F) to its warmest (76°F).
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
Max depth
17 ft
Surface area
340 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
16 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
3.2 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
1,211 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Staples 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 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 readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Staples Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Staples 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 whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every 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 (2020–2026).
Water clarity
Stable6 years
Phosphorus
Improving-12.54 µg/L/yr6 years
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
Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life, Recreation.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10005053 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Barron County
Frequently asked questions about Staples Lake
Where is Staples Lake?
- Staples 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 Staples Lake?
- Staples Lake in Barron County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. 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?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Staples Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5R) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Staples Lake?
- Staples Lake typically sits around 70°F at the surface in September, 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.
Can I fish at Staples Lake?
- Staples Lake has 1 documented boat landing 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 Staples Lake across LakeQuality
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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)
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