Red Cedar Lake, Red Cedar Lake Watershed (LC11)
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Red Cedar Lake, Red Cedar Lake Watershed (LC11)
Red Cedar Lake (2109600)
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1896.90 Acres
Natural Community
Two-Story
Year Last Monitored
2025
Poor
 
This lake is impaired
Excess Algal Growth, Eutrophication
Total Phosphorus
 
Barron, Washburn
Trout Water 
No
Outstanding or Exceptional 
Yes
Impaired Water 
Yes

Fish and Aquatic Life

Current Use
Restricted Aquatic Life
Attainable Use
Default FAL
Designated Use
Default FAL

Overview

Red Cedar Lake is a 1,841-acre drainage lake located on the Red Cedar River in the northeastern corner of Barron County. An 11-foot water control structure is located on the outlet of the lake. Red Cedar Lake is considered and Outstanding Resource Water.

Hemlock Lake is a 357-acre drainage lake connected to Red Cedar Lake to the southeast. The water control structure on the outlet of Red Cedar Lake controls the level of Hemlock Lake.

Balsam Lake is a 295-acre drainage lake connected to Red Cedar Lake and to the north along the course of the merging Red Cedar River. The Red Cedar Lakes Association was awarded a Lake Management Planning Grant to monitor water quality conditions in Red Cedar, Hemlock and Balsam Lakes. Results suggest that Red Cedar Lake is a mesotrophc waterbody with TSI values in the range of 52, and Hemlock Lake appears to be a eutrophic lake with TSI values in the range of 59. This preliminary data suggests that Balsam Lake may be a low mesotrophic lake with TSI values in the range of 48.

Fish tissue analysis for mercury contamination has been conducted on Red Cedar Lake and a fish consumption advisory exists for walleye ranging from 15 to 22 inches (Category 2).

Volunteers have been collecting water clarity information on this lake since 1987 and during 1994 one of the volunteers started collecting phosphorus and chlorophyll g data on Red Cedar and Hemlock Lakes as part of the TSI level of monitoring under the self-help lake monitoring program.

Red Cedar Lake is a high-quality aquatic resource and has been classified as an outstanding resource water under the provisions of Chapter NR 102.10 of the Wis. Adm. Code. This high quality lake is susceptible to any increase in phosphorus loading and should receive a high priority for protection under all DNR programs, including water quality standards, runoff grant programs, and rivers and lakes planning and protection grant programs.

Date  1996

Author   Aquatic Biologist

Historical Description

Source: 1964, Surface Water Resources of Barron County Red Cedar Lake T36N, RIOW, Sections - several

A hard water drainage lake on the Red Cedar River. It has an 11 -foot water control structure on its outlet that is maintained by Northern States Power Company. The most common fish species here are walleyes, northern pike, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, perch and rock bass. Other species present include muskellunge, bluegills, black crappies, pumpkinseeds, yellow bullheads, cisco, white suckers, redhorse, bowfin and several minnow species. The lakeshore is predominantly upland hardwood with an eight-acre wetland that support s muskrats, nesting puddle ducks, mergansers, coot and loon. Canada geese also use the lake during migratory seasons. Extensive private development on theeast side of the lake consists of 12 resorts, 12 boat rentals, 72 cottages and dwellings and a Boy Scout Camp. Camping is available at the Barron County Park on the northwest shore of the lake. Two public accesses are located on the west shore, and there are nine other undeveloped platted access sites for a total of 0.23 miles of public frontage. Altogether, the public frontage includes the access sites, county park and a shoreline of six, state-owned islands. There is also a golf course on the east shore of the lake.

Surface Acres = 1, 881.8, S.D.F. = 2.62, Maximum Depth = 53 feet

Date  1964

Author   Surface Water Inventory Of Wisconsin

Natural communities (stream and lake natural communities) represent model results that use predicted flow and temperature based on landscape features and related assumptions. Ranges of flow and temperature associated with specific aquatic life communities (fish, macroinvertebrates) help biologists identify appropriate resource management goals. Wisconsin Natural Communities.
This is the most recent date of monitoring data stored in SWIMS. Additional surveys for fish and habitat may be available subsequent to this date.
Trout Waters are represented by Class I, Class II or Class III waters. These classes have specific ecological characteristics and management actions associated with them. For more information regarding Trout Classifications, see the Fisheries Trout Class Webpages.
Wisconsin has designated many of the state's highest quality waters as Outstanding Resource Waters (ORWs) or Exceptional Resource Waters (ERWs). Waters designated as ORW or ERW are surface waters which provide outstanding recreational opportunities, support valuable fisheries and wildlife habitat, have good water quality, and are not significantly impacted by human activities. ORW and ERW status identifies waters that the State of Wisconsin has determined warrant additional protection from the effects of pollution. These designations are intended to meet federal Clean Water Act obligations requiring Wisconsin to adopt an 'antidegradation' policy that is designed to prevent any lowering of water quality - especially in those waters having significant ecological or cultural value.
A water is polluted or 'impaired' if it does not support full use by humans, wildlife, fish and other aquatic life and it is shown that one or more of the pollutant criteria are not met.
The use the water currently supports. This is not a designation or classification; it is based on the current condition of the water. Information in this column is not designed for, and should not be used for, regulatory purposes.
Fish and Aquatic Life communities are not fully supported in this ecosystem.
The use that the investigator believes the water could achieve through managing "controllable" sources. Beaver dams, hydroelectric dams, low gradient streams, and naturally occurring low flows are generally not considered controllable. The attainable use may be the same as the current use or it may be higher.
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.
This is the water classification legally recognized by NR102 and NR104, Wis. Adm. Code. The classification determines water quality criteria and effluent limits. Waters obtain designated uses through classification procedures.
Fish and Aquatic Life - Default Waters do not have a specific use designation subcategory but are considered fishable, swimmable waters.