Middle Mckenzie Lake
Burnett County, Wisconsin527 acresView mapDirections
Wisconsin DNR publishes the water-quality measurements for Middle Mckenzie Lake. Here is what has been measured.
- Oligotrophic
- Impaired · Nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen)
- 3 aquatic invasives
- 45 ft max depth
- Public access
Middle Mckenzie Lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 20 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 12.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 45 ft. Surface area: 527 acres.
Wisconsin DNR lists Musky as common on Middle Mckenzie Lake. DNR survey details →
Middle Mckenzie Lake is a 527-acre cold, clear oligotrophic lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin with a maximum depth of 45 feet. Overall water quality is improving over recent sampling years. The lake supports 5 documented fish species including Musky, Panfish, and Largemouth Bass. Public access is available with 1 public boat landing. Compared to the 29 other monitored lakes in Burnett County, Middle Mckenzie Lake ranks #23 for water quality.
Source: EPA Water Quality Portal sampling records, Wisconsin DNR Surface Water, last sampled 2026-05-19. Methodology: how these readings are compared.
Middle Mckenzie Lake covers about 530 acres in Burnett County. It has one public boat landing. Vrbo is where to look for cabins and lake homes around Middle Mckenzie Lake, and Booking.com and Expedia search hotels near the lake for your dates.
What Middle Mckenzie Lake is good for
From access and monitoring records, not editorial picks.
- Clear water20 ft of visibility
- Boat launch1 documented ramp
- Fishing5 species recorded
- Deep water45 ft surveyed max depth
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. Middle Mckenzie Lake is listed impaired under Clean Water Act §303(d) (IR 5R) for nutrients (phosphorus, nitrogen). Check local advisories before you swim.
Whether Middle Mckenzie 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 Middle Mckenzie Lake
These are the measurements Wisconsin DNR publishes for Middle Mckenzie Lake, shown as reported. The condition class beside each reading is the EPA National Lakes Assessment class for this lake’s ecoregion.
Crystal clear, you can see 20 ft down. Phosphorus 12.4 µg/L. TSI 37.
| Measure | Reading | Where it sits |
|---|---|---|
| Water clarity (Secchi depth) | 20ft | Measured, not scored How deep a black-and-white disk stays visible from the surface. Higher is clearer. |
| Total phosphorus | 12.4µg/L | Good GoodFairPoor |
| Chlorophyll-a (algae) | No reading The green pigment in algae — a direct measure of how much algae is in the water. | |
| Trophic state (TSI)Carlson's 0–100 index of how much algae a lake can support, from clarity, phosphorus and chlorophyll-a. | 37 | Oligotrophic OligotrophicMesotrophicEutrophicHypereutrophic |
Low nutrients, clear water. No reading is a swimming clearance.
Ask about Middle Mckenzie Lake
Answers come straight from the public measurements and survey records on this page.
Water Temperature
Middle Mckenzie Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in September. Summer average is about 76°F. Usually warmest in Aug (about 80°F) and coldest in May (about 53°F). These are typical values by month — not a live reading.
Column height runs from this lake’s coldest month (53°F) to its warmest (80°F).
Typical surface water temperature by month, from 8 field readings (2024–2024) via the EPA Water Quality Portal. See the full Middle Mckenzie Lake water temperature breakdown →
Wisconsin DNR lists Musky as common on Middle Mckenzie Lake.
A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Middle Mckenzie Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 4 years of monitoring is improving. 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 2024).
Fish Species (DNR-rated)
Lake Details
Max depth
45 ft
Surface area
527 acres
Public access
Yes
Listed by Wisconsin DNR
Lake Size & Watershed
Watershed (drainage) area
32 sq mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Shoreline
3.5 mi
HydroLAKES / HydroSHEDS
Elevation
974 ft
Size, shoreline, and watershed area from HydroLAKES (HydroSHEDS).
Recreation & Access
- Middle McKenzie 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 Middle Mckenzie Lake
Compare lakeside cabins, hotels, and vacation rentals near Middle Mckenzie 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 Middle Mckenzie Lake
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Fish Species
Click a species to see every lake where it is documented.
Fishing Middle Mckenzie Lake
- → Middle Mckenzie Lake fishing: DNR survey catch rates, species & stocking
- → Middle Mckenzie Lake fishing forecast & best times (species outlook + 14-day solunar calendar)
- → Middle Mckenzie Lake fishing regulations (limits, seasons, special rules)
- → Is it safe to eat fish from Middle Mckenzie Lake? (mercury & PFAS guide)
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: Improving
Based on 4 years of monitoring (2021–2024).
Water clarity
Improving4 years
Phosphorus
Improving-0.47 µg/L/yr4 years
EPA Impairment Status
Middle Mckenzie 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 WI10005561 · Official waterbody report
Nearby Lakes in Burnett County
Frequently asked questions about Middle Mckenzie Lake
Where is Middle Mckenzie Lake?
- Middle Mckenzie 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 Middle Mckenzie Lake?
- Middle Mckenzie Lake in Burnett County, Wisconsin has water-quality measurements published by Wisconsin DNR, shown here as reported. Water clarity: 20 ft visibility. Phosphorus: 12.4 µg/L. Maximum depth: 45 ft. Surface area: 527 acres.
Is Middle Mckenzie Lake safe to swim in?
- Nutrient and algae readings are not a swimming clearance. Middle Mckenzie 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 Middle Mckenzie Lake?
- Middle Mckenzie Lake typically sits around 73°F at the surface in September, from 8 EPA Water Quality Portal field readings (2024–2024). That is a typical value for the month, not a live reading.
How deep is Middle Mckenzie Lake?
- Middle Mckenzie Lake has a maximum depth of 45 feet. The lake covers 527 acres.
What fish are in Middle Mckenzie Lake?
- Fish species found in Middle Mckenzie Lake include Musky, Panfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Walleye. Middle Mckenzie Lake is located in Burnett County, Wisconsin.
What did the DNR fisheries survey find at Middle Mckenzie Lake?
- Wisconsin DNR lists Musky as common on Middle Mckenzie Lake. A DNR fisheries survey reports fish abundance and catch rates, not water quality. LakeQuality shows Middle Mckenzie Lake’s water-quality measurements separately, and the water-quality trend over 4 years of monitoring is improving. Catch rate is not a swim clearance and is not a weekly bite report.
Are there boat ramps on Middle Mckenzie Lake?
- Middle Mckenzie Lake has 1 documented boat landing in the USGS National Boat Ramps inventory. Named access points include Middle McKenzie Lake. Public access is listed as yes.
Can I fish at Middle Mckenzie Lake?
- Middle Mckenzie 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 Middle Mckenzie Lake across LakeQuality
Depth, room, public access, and the state wake-sport rules
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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
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Wisconsin's cleanest lakes, ranked on agency measurements
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Where this data comes from
32 measurements from 1 monitoring station, 2021–2026. Retrieved from the EPA Water Quality Portal on 2026-08-02.
Collected and reported by
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
WIDNR_WQX32 samples · 2021–2026
Analytical methods
- Phosphorus by Colorimetry
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
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