Clam Lake

Clam Lake pulls a D on the LakeGrade rubric — phosphorus loading and limited clarity hold it below the Wisconsin average. The lake's weakest score is on Secchi depth — the water looks more turbid than its phosphorus number alone would predict.

At a TSI of 61, 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 51 of 57 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. 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.