Upper Turtle Lake
Upper Turtle Lake in Barron County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 38.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 427 acres.
- Clarity
- 4 ft
- Typical in August
- 75°F
- Max depth
- 25 ft
- Area
- 427 acres
- Type
- Eutrophic
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Barron County
Upper Turtle Lake is a 427-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Barron County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 25 feet. Water quality is graded C based on 1 sampling years through 2026. Overall water quality is declining 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, Upper Turtle Lake ranks #19 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-06-22. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyModerate
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.
Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality
Water Quality Grade: C (Fair)
Murky, only visible to about 4 ft. Phosphorus level: 38.2 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 57.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 4 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 38.2 µg/L | Fair |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 57 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Upper Turtle Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Upper Turtle 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.
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Water Temperature
Upper Turtle Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August. Summer average is about 75°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 79°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 27 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Upper Turtle Lake water temperature breakdown →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 25 ft |
| Surface Area | 427 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Upper Turtle LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Upper Turtle 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. Monitored by volunteers since 1994. 3 stations on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Upper Turtle Lake covering fish populations, stocking, water quality, and management. 2 reports on file.
These links open on the official state DNR websites (Wisconsin DNR survey PDFs · Minnesota DNR LakeFinder).
- 2021Lower Turtle Lake comprehensive survey, 2021Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2021 (PDF)
- 2021Upper Turtle Lake comprehensive survey, 2021Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2021 (PDF)
Water Quality Trend: ↓ Declining
Based on 7 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.2 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | → Stable | -0.34 µg/L/yr | 7 |
EPA Impairment Status
Upper Turtle 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 WI10004364 · Official waterbody report
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
3 EPA-permitted facilities operate within about 5 miles of Upper Turtle Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- Saputo Cheese Usa Inc AlmenaAlmena · 2.4 mi away · NPDES WI0050725Recent violation
- Scheps Dairy IncAlmena · 1.9 mi away · NPDES WI0066621
- Puris Proteins LlcTurtle Lake, Village Of · 3 mi away · NPDES WI0066273
Facilities permitted to discharge under the Clean Water Act within ~5 miles; proximity does not by itself mean a facility affects this lake. Source: EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES), as of 2026-07.
County Ranking
Ranked #19 of 28 lakes in Barron County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Upper Turtle Lake holds Grade C. 3 nearby lakes hold higher nutrient-and-algae grades — useful for a swim day, not a reason to skip lodging here.
See full comparison →Nearby Lakes in Barron County
Frequently asked questions about Upper Turtle Lake
What is the water quality grade for Upper Turtle Lake?
- Upper Turtle Lake in Barron County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Water clarity: 4 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 38.2 µg/L. Maximum depth: 25 ft. Surface area: 427 acres.
Is Upper Turtle Lake safe to swim in?
- Generally safe for swimming, moderate water quality. Upper Turtle Lake has a water quality grade of C (Fair). Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Upper Turtle Lake?
- Upper Turtle Lake typically sits around 75°F at the surface in August, from 27 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Upper Turtle Lake?
- Upper Turtle Lake has a maximum depth of 25 feet. The lake covers 427 acres.
What fish are in Upper Turtle Lake?
- Fish species found in Upper Turtle Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Upper Turtle Lake is located in Barron County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Upper Turtle Lake?
- Upper Turtle Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Upper Turtle Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Upper Turtle Lake across LakeGrade
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High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
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Where this data comes from
97 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_WQX97 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
Regulated discharger data from EPA ECHO (ICIS-NPDES)
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