Clam Lake

Clam Lake earns a C — middle-of-the-pack water quality, with one or two parameters dragging the average down from a stronger grade. Clarity, phosphorus, and chlorophyll-a all rate similarly, so there is no obvious single lever to pull on watershed management.

At a TSI of 55, Clam Lake reads as eutrophic — nutrient-rich enough that summer algal growth and reduced clarity are expected, not unusual. Clam Lake is a shallow lake at 11 ft maximum depth, which means it warms quickly, mixes constantly, and amplifies nutrient inputs. At 1,338 acres, Clam Lake is one of the larger lakes in Burnett County, with partial shoreline records supporting multiple distinct use patterns. Clam Lake ranks 67 of 70 in Burnett County — at the lower end of the locally monitored distribution.

An invasive species record — Chinese Mystery Snail — has been logged at Clam Lake; Wisconsin DNR maintains the official infested-waters list. Walleye are documented at Clam Lake, one of 7 fish species on record for the lake. A documented public access point at Clam Lake makes the lake usable for shore fishing, paddle craft, and trailered boats. Multiple sampling years from the Wisconsin DNR Citizen Lake Monitoring Network back the grade, so the letter should hold steady absent a major watershed shift.