Big Sand Lake
Burnett County, Wisconsin1,434 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Big Sand Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Mesotrophic
- Purple Loosestrife
- 55 ft max depth
- Public access
- Limited data
Big Sand Lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 11 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 19.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 55 ft. Surface area: 1434 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Largemouth Bass and Northern Pike as abundant on Big Sand Lake. DNR survey details →
Big Sand Lake is a 1,434-acre mesotrophic lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 55 feet. Phosphorus level is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Panfish, Largemouth Bass, and Smallmouth Bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 29 other monitored lakes in Burnett County, Big Sand Lake ranks #1 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2025-10-27. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Big Sand Lake covers about 1,400 acres in Burnett County. It has one public boat landing. For a place on the water, look through cabin and lake-house rentals near Big Sand Lake on Vrbo. For a hotel or motel room, Booking.com and Expedia both search around the lake.
What Big Sand Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water11 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing5 species recorded
- Deep water55 ft surveyed max depth
- Big water1,434 acres
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyLimited data
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. Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Big Sand 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 Big Sand Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Big Sand Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Good clarity, visible to about 11 ft. Phosphorus 19.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 2.3 µg/L. TSI 43.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 11ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 19.5µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 2.3µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 43 | Mesotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Ask about Big Sand Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Big Sand Lake typically sits around 50°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 69°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 72°F) and coldest in Oct (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 (72°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 90 field readings (2025–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Big Sand Lake water temperature breakdown →
Blue-Green Algae (Cyanobacteria)
There’s no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Big Sand Lake — clouds, ice, or an off-season gap in coverage. The most recent reading was low (15,276 cells/mL) on November 15, 2025.
Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check your state’s current advisory before swimming. EPA CyAN ↗
Wisconsin DNR rates Largemouth Bass and Northern Pike as abundant on Big Sand Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Big Sand Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
WI DNR Lake Profile
Authoritative data from the Wisconsin DNR LakePages. 2 stations on file (most recent sample 2024).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Big Sand 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).
- 2022Big Sand Lake comprehensive survey, 2022Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2022 (PDF)
- 2014North Sand Lake comprehensive fisheries survey, 2014Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2014 (PDF)
Lake Details
Max depth
55 ft
Surface area
1,434 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
9 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
8 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
968 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Big Sand 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 Big Sand Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Big Sand 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.
Top-rated places to stay near Big Sand 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 →
Follow Big Sand Lake’s readings
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Big Sand 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: Stable
Based on 5 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Stable5 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+1 µg/L/yr2 years
Chlorophyll-a
Improving-0.24 µg/L/yr2 years
Regulated Pollution Sources Nearby
1 EPA-permitted facility operate within about 5 miles of Big Sand Lake under Clean Water Act (NPDES) discharge permits. 1 facility has a reported Clean Water Act violation in the past three years.
- St. Croix Tribal CouncilHertel · 1.3 mi away · NPDES WI0062847Recent violation
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.
Nearby Lakes in Burnett County
Frequently asked questions about Big Sand Lake
Where is Big Sand Lake?
- Big Sand Lake is a lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin. Its water-quality measurements are published by Wisconsin DNR and shown on this page as reported.
What is the water quality of Big Sand Lake?
- Big Sand Lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 11 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 19.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 2.3 µg/L. Maximum depth: 55 ft. Surface area: 1434 acres.
Is Big Sand Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Big Sand Lake?
- Big Sand Lake typically sits around 50°F at the surface in October, from 90 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2025–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Big Sand Lake?
- Big Sand Lake has a maximum depth of 55 feet. The lake covers 1434 acres.
What fish are in Big Sand Lake?
- Fish species found in Big Sand Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Big Sand Lake is located in Burnett County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Big Sand Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Largemouth Bass and Northern Pike as abundant on Big Sand Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Big Sand Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 5 years of monitoring is stable. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Does Big Sand Lake have blue-green algae?
- There is no recent EPA CyAN cyanobacteria estimate for Big Sand Lake (clouds, ice, or an off-season gap). The most recent reading was low (15,276 cells/mL). Blue-green algae can appear and clear within days, so check Wisconsin's current advisory before swimming.
Are there boat ramps on Big Sand Lake?
- Big Sand Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Big Sand Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Big Sand Lake?
- Big Sand 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 Big Sand Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
Fish species and the cleanest 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 readings
Lakes in the St. Croix Watershed, ranked by water quality
Wisconsin's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Compare Big Sand Lake With Nearby Lakes
Burnett County · 6 ft
Burnett County · 3 ft
Burnett County · 11 ft
Burnett County · 18 ft
Burnett County · 8 ft
Burnett County · 20 ft
Where this data comes from
198 measurements from 2 monitoring stations, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin
STCROIX_WQX178 samples · 2020–2025 - Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX20 samples · 2020–2024
Analytical methods
- 4500 P E ~ Phosphorus in Water by Colorimetry- Ascorbic Acid Method
- 10200 H ~ Chlorophyll a-b-c Determination
Monitoring station identifiers (2)
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
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