Clam Lake
Burnett County, Wisconsin1,338 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Clam Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Eutrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- 2 aquatic invasives
- 11 ft max depth
- Public access
Clam Lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 77.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 13 µg/L. Maximum depth: 11 ft. Surface area: 1338 acres.
Wisconsin DNR rates Northern Pike as abundant on Clam Lake. DNR survey details →
Clam Lake is a 1,338-acre productive, nutrient-rich eutrophic lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 11 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 7 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, Clam Lake ranks #28 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.
What Clam Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing7 species recorded
- Big water1,338 acres
Swimming conditions
Readings onlyRecreation use not supported
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. Clam Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5R) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Clam 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 Clam Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Clam Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Very murky, less than 3 ft of visibility. Phosphorus 77.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a 13 µg/L. TSI 61.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 3ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 77.5µg/L | Poor GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | 13µg/L | Fair GoodFairPoor |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 61 | Eutrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Ask about Clam Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Clam Lake typically sits around 50°F at the surface in October. Summer average is about 76°F. Usually warmest in Jul (about 81°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 (81°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 40 field readings (2024–2025) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Clam Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR rates Northern Pike as abundant on Clam Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Clam Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. 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. Monitored by volunteers since 2009. 1 station on file (most recent sample 2025).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
DNR Reports & Resources
Wisconsin DNR Fisheries scientists publish multi-year survey reports for Clam 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).
- 2024Clam Lake comprehensive survey, 2024Comprehensive Survey · WI DNR · 2024 (PDF)
- 2018Upper Clam River trout assessment 2018Trout Survey · WI DNR · 2018 (PDF)
Lake Details
Max depth
11 ft
Surface area
1,338 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Recreation & Access
- Clam 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 Clam Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Clam 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 readings cover nutrients and algae, not lodging. Cabins and rentals around Clam Lake are listed below.
Top-rated places to stay near Clam 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 Clam Lake’s readings
Email me when new measurements post for this lake. Updates stay free.
Or email
Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Clam 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: Worsening
Based on 6 years of monitoring (2020–2025).
Water clarity
Worsening6 years
Phosphorus
Worsening+9.2 µg/L/yr6 years
Chlorophyll-a
Worsening+3.65 µg/L/yr6 years
Reservoir Info (USACE NID)
Clam Lake is a man-made reservoir impounded by the Clam Lake (completed 1936), built primarily for recreation on the CLAM; gravity-type dam, 10 ft tall and 110 ft long.
- Surface area
- 1,207 ac
- Normal storage
- 3,600 ac-ft
- Max storage
- 9,600 ac-ft
- Drainage area
- 325 sq mi
- Hazard class
- Low
- Owner
- Burnett County
Source: USACE National Inventory of Dams, NID ID WI00619 · Operator website
EPA Impairment Status
Clam Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5R).
Causes of impairment
Designated uses not supporting: Aquatic life, Recreation.
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10006735 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Burnett County
Frequently asked questions about Clam Lake
Where is Clam Lake?
- Clam 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 Clam Lake?
- Clam Lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 3 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 77.5 µg/L. Chlorophyll-a (algae): 13 µg/L. Maximum depth: 11 ft. Surface area: 1338 acres.
Is Clam Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Clam Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5R) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
What is the water temperature of Clam Lake?
- Clam Lake typically sits around 50°F at the surface in October, from 40 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2025). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Clam Lake?
- Clam Lake has a maximum depth of 11 feet. The lake covers 1338 acres.
What fish are in Clam Lake?
- Fish species found in Clam Lake include Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Sturgeon, Catfish. Clam Lake is located in Burnett County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Clam Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR rates Northern Pike as abundant on Clam Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Clam Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 6 years of monitoring is declining. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Clam Lake?
- Clam Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Clam Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Clam Lake?
- Clam 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 Clam 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
More lakes in Wisconsin
State Parks Near Clam Lake
Other Lakes in Wisconsin
Eutrophic Lakes in Wisconsin
Compare Clam Lake With Nearby Lakes
Where this data comes from
183 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2020–2025. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin
STCROIX_WQX183 samples · 2020–2025
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)
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
Fish and recreation data from Wisconsin DNR Lakes
Named boat-access points from the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory