Bashaw Lake
Bashaw Lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 48.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 16 ft. Surface area: 170 acres.
- Clarity
- 3 ft
- Max depth
- 16 ft
- Area
- 170 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 Bashaw Lake →
Next lake in Burnett County
Bashaw Lake is a 170-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 16 feet. Water quality is graded D based on 3 sampling years through 2022. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 3 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Northern Pike. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 29 other monitored lakes in Burnett County, Bashaw Lake ranks #30 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2022-10-27. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
Watch Bashaw Lake water quality
Subscribe for LakeQuality updates by email. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
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 3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus level: 48.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 8.6 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 58.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 3 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 48.5 µg/L | Poor |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 8.6 µg/L | Fair |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 58 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Bashaw Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Bashaw Lake in Burnett 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 Bashaw Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Bashaw 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 →
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 16 ft |
| Surface Area | 170 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Bashaw LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Bashaw 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. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2018).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Water Quality Trend: ↑ Improving
Based on 2 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.75 m/yr | 2 |
| Phosphorus | ↑ Improving | -3 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -7.5 µg/L/yr | 2 |
County Ranking
Ranked #30 of 30 lakes in Burnett County
Nearby Lakes With Higher Grades
Bashaw Lake holds Grade D. 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 Burnett County
Frequently asked questions about Bashaw Lake
What is the water quality grade for Bashaw Lake?
- Bashaw Lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 48.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 8.6 µg/L. Maximum depth: 16 ft. Surface area: 170 acres.
Is Bashaw 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. Bashaw Lake has a water quality grade of D (Nutrient-rich). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 8.6 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Bashaw Lake?
- Bashaw Lake has a maximum depth of 16 feet. The lake covers 170 acres.
What fish are in Bashaw Lake?
- Fish species found in Bashaw Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike. Bashaw Lake is located in Burnett County, Wisconsin.
Are there boat ramps on Bashaw Lake?
- Bashaw Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Bashaw Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Bashaw Lake across LakeGrade
Fish species and top-graded lakes across Wisconsin
Fish species and best lakes in Burnett County
Species activity outlook by water temperature and season
Where to stay at Wisconsin's top lakes, each with its grade
Lakes in the St. Croix Watershed, ranked by water quality
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Wisconsin's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
More Wisconsin Lake Rankings
State Parks Near Bashaw Lake
Other Grade D Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Where this data comes from
80 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin
STCROIX_WQX80 samples · 2021–2022
Analytical methods
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 4500 P F ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry Automated Ascorbic Acid Method
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
- Calculation
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
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