Little Yellow Lake
Little Yellow Lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Phosphorus: 90.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 21 ft. Surface area: 332 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Musky as common on Little Yellow Lake. DNR survey details →
- Max depth
- 21 ft
- Area
- 332 acres
- Trend
- ↓ Declining
- Public access
- Yes
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Why Little Yellow Lake has no grade
We grade a lake only when the monitoring record supports a letter: at least three phosphorus or chlorophyll-a samples in the last ten years, scored against EPA National Lakes Assessment thresholds for this lake’s ecoregion. For Little Yellow Lake, no nutrient or algae measurement meets the evidence bar (at least 3 samples within 10 years). Sampling here has recorded phosphorus, but not water clarity and algae (chlorophyll-a).
Not Rated is not an F. It is EPA Integrated Reporting Category 3 — insufficient information. The water here may be excellent or poor; nobody has measured enough of it to say. Everything below that has been measured is still reported on this page.
Sampling is run by WI DNR and volunteer programs, and published through the EPA Water Quality Portal. Read the full grading methodology.
Little Yellow Lake is a 332-acre lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 21 feet. Overall water quality is declining over recent sampling years. The lake supports 8 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 2 public boat landings.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2022-08-28. Grade methodology: LakeQuality methodology.
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Swimming Safety
Not ratedLimited data
Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake
Water quality measurements for Little Yellow Lake
These readings exist but are not enough for an A–F grade — see why.
No clarity data. Phosphorus level: 90.9 µg/L. Trophic State Index: 69.
| Metric | Value | Grade |
|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity (Secchi Depth) | No recent samples | |
| Phosphorus | 90.9 µg/L | Not graded |
| Chlorophyll-a (Algae) | No recent samples | |
| Trophic State Index (TSI) | 69 | Eutrophic |
High nutrients, frequent algae, reduced clarity
Where to stay near Little Yellow Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Little Yellow 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 Little Yellow Lake
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Planning a whole trip? See where to stay at Wisconsin’s top lakes →
Wisconsin DNR lists Musky as common on Little Yellow Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Little Yellow Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, 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. 2 stations on file (most recent sample 2022).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Maximum Depth | 21 ft |
| Surface Area | 332 acres |
| Public Access | Yes |
Lake Size & Watershed
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Yellow Lake NarrowsPublic
- Bass LakePublic
Named access points in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory, within about 3 miles. More lakes with boat ramps
Fish Species
Click a species to see every graded lake where it is documented.
Fishing Little Yellow 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: ↓ Declining
Based on 6 years of monitoring data (2020-2025).
| Metric | Trend | Change/Year | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water Clarity | ↓ Declining | -0.314 m/yr | 6 |
| Phosphorus | ↓ Declining | +2.33 µg/L/yr | 6 |
EPA Impairment Status
Little Yellow Lake is officially listed as impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) in the 2024 EPA reporting cycle (IR category 5R).
Causes of impairment
Source: EPA ATTAINS assessment unit WI10005342 · Official waterbody report
Graded lakes near Little Yellow Lake
Little Yellow Lake has no grade, but these lakes within a short drive do.
Nearby Lakes in Burnett County
Frequently asked questions about Little Yellow Lake
Where is Little Yellow Lake?
- Little Yellow Lake is a lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin. LakeQuality has not rated this lake (UNRATED) — there is not enough recent sampling to assign a letter.
What is the water quality grade for Little Yellow Lake?
- Little Yellow Lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Phosphorus: 90.9 µg/L. Maximum depth: 21 ft. Surface area: 332 acres.
Is Little Yellow Lake safe to swim in?
- Not rated for swimming — there is not enough monitoring data to judge this lake. Little Yellow Lake is not rated for water quality — its monitoring record does not meet the evidence bar. Always check local health department advisories before swimming.
How deep is Little Yellow Lake?
- Little Yellow Lake has a maximum depth of 21 feet. The lake covers 332 acres.
What fish are in Little Yellow Lake?
- Fish species found in Little Yellow Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Smallmouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye, Sturgeon, Catfish. Little Yellow Lake is located in Burnett County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Little Yellow Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Musky as common on Little Yellow Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not a water-quality grade. LakeQuality does not assign an A–F grade on Little Yellow Lake — official chemistry is on file, not a letter, 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 Little Yellow Lake?
- Little Yellow Lake has 2 documented boat landings in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Yellow Lake Narrows, Bass Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Explore Little Yellow Lake across LakeQuality
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Where this data comes from
1 measurement from 1 monitoring station, 2022. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX1 sample · 2022
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
Monitoring station identifiers (1)
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
Impairment status from EPA ATTAINS 303(d) database
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