Big Sand Lake
Big Sand Lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). 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.
- Clarity
- 11 ft
- Typical in August
- 67°F
- Max depth
- 55 ft
- Area
- 1,434 acres
- Type
- Mesotrophic
- Trend
- → Stable
- Public access
- Yes
Next lake in Burnett County
Big Sand Lake is a 1,434-acre mesotrophic lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 55 feet. Water quality is graded A based on 2 sampling years through 2025. 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 3 public boat landings. 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. Grade methodology: LakeGrade methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Grade onlyLimited data
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.
Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae
Water Quality Grade: A (Excellent)
Good clarity, visible to about 11 ft. Phosphorus level: 19.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a: 2.3 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 43.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | 11 ft | Not graded |
| Phosphorus | 19.5 µg/L | Good |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | 2.3 µg/L | Good |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 43 | Mesotrophic |
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Where to stay 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
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Water Temperature
Big Sand Lake typically sits around 67°F at the surface in August. 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.
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 ↗
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 55 ft |
| Surface Area | 1,434 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Pokegama LakePublic
- Warner LakePublic
- Big Sand LakePublic
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded 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.
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)
Water Quality Trend: → Stable
Based on 5 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | → Stable | +0.108 m/yr | 5 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +1 µg/L/yr | 2 |
| Chlorophyll-a | ↑ Improving | -0.24 µg/L/yr | 2 |
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.
County Ranking
Ranked #1 of 30 lakes in Burnett County
Nearby Lakes in Burnett County
Frequently asked questions about Big Sand Lake
What is the water quality grade for Big Sand Lake?
- Big Sand Lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). 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?
- Excellent for swimming, crystal clear water with minimal algae. Big Sand Lake has a water quality grade of A (Excellent). Algae concentration (chlorophyll-a) is 2.3 µg/L. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
What is the water temperature of Big Sand Lake?
- Big Sand Lake typically sits around 67°F at the surface in August, 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.
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 3 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Pokegama Lake, Warner Lake, Big Sand Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Big Sand Lake across LakeGrade
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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
Moderate nutrients, good water quality
Wisconsin's cleanest and most-polluted lakes, ranked
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State Parks Near Big Sand Lake
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Mesotrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Compare Big Sand Lake With Nearby Lakes
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Burnett County · Grade B
Burnett County · Grade B
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)
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
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